Table

 Perinatal variables in the children with neonatal encephalopathy

ModerateSevere
Maternal and or neonatal records were only available for 63/65 children; several data points were not recorded in the notes, hence proportions are shown of cases where the information (positive or negative) was recorded. Cerebral imaging: 54 children had ultrasound scans described in the clinical notes, 43 were “normal”, eight reported showing changes of “cerebral oedema”, one parietal infarct, and two intracerebral haemorrhage. Seven children had follow up computed tomography scans (two “ischaemic changes”; one “frontal intracerebral haemorrhage”; one “infarct”; three “normal”), and two children had magnetic resonance imaging scans (one “right hemiatrophy”; one changes of “hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy”). In 10/45 children, investigations were undertaken for other aetiologies (10 had urine or blood metabolic screening test, nine had an infection screen, and six karyotypes were evaluated: none showed significant abnormality).
*Medium (range).
CTG, cardiotocogram; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit.
Obstetric information
    Mother primigravida75% (24/32)68% (21/31)
    Maternal hypertension13% (4/32)13% (4/30)
    Maternal diabetes− (0/32)7% (2/30)
    Fetal growth restriction3% (1/32)− (0/30)
    No labour3% (1/32)13% (4/30)
    CTG abnormal75% (16/20)92% (23/25)
    Emergency caesarean section48% (15/31)48% (15/31)
        For fetal distress100% (15/15)93% (14/15)
    Spontaneous vertex delivery35% (11/31)35% (11/31)
Condition at delivery
    Heart rate <100/min at 1 min17% (5/29)19% (5/27)
    Intubated in delivery room50% (16/32)80% (24/30)
    Chest compressions12% (3/25)31% (8/26)
    Adrenaline (epinephrine) given (any route)8% (2/25)30% (8/27)
    Bicarbonate given4% (1/24)38% (11/29)
    Apgar score at 1 min <781% (25/31)97% (29/30)
        Number with score ⩽3 (no  =  0)15 (2)23 (5)
    Apgar score at 5 min <752% (15/29)63% (19/30)
        Number with score ⩽3 (no  =  0)5 (2)9 (2)
    Apgar score at 10 min <7 (of those recorded)5/1910/16
    Spontaneous respirations established by 10 min of age65% (13/20)39% (7/18)
    Not ventilated in NICU90% (18/20)27% (6/22)
    Indication for ventilation
        Apnoea11/1616/21
        Meconium aspiration2/164/21
    Supplemental oxygen given43% (9/21)83% (19/23)
    Duration of oxygen therapy (days)*1 (1–4)3.5 (1–22)
    Aspartate transaminase >100 units/l50% (6/12)43% (6/14)
    Creatinine >100 mmol/l44% (12/27)68% (17/25)
    “Oliguria” recorded29% (7/24)25% (6/24)
    Inotropic support given5% (1/19)44% (7/16)
    Volume bolus given24% (5/21)63% (12/19)
Sucking feeds established (days)*4.5 (1–22)9 (1–37)
Age neurology recorded as normal (days)*4 (2–10)5 (3–15)
Age fits ceased (days)*2 (1–7)4 (2–15)
Age anticonvulsants discontinued (days)*5 (1–21)10 (2–90)