Lack of adequate oxygen at birth affects approximately 2 to 4 in every 1,000 babies born in the United States, and it can result in brain damage, cerebral palsy and other serious injuries to the newborn. To reduce the risk of death or disability in these infants, St. David’s hospital in Austin, Texas has started using what’s known as hypothermia therapy.

What is hypothermia therapy?
 

Hypothermia therapy has long been used to prevent brain damage in adults after they’ve suffered cardiac arrest or had cardiac surgery. Its use in infants and children is not yet widespread but involves using cooling blankets to reduce the newborn’s temperature – usually down to 92 degrees for 72 hours.

Cooling the baby’s temperature helps to reduce swelling, slow down the injury process and prevent “a cascade of events that causes cell death,” said neonatologist Dr. Frank Cho. In addition, no major side effects are associated with hypothermia therapy.

Tags: "cerebral palsy" "brain damage" "cerebral palsy causes"