• Shruthi K Bharadwaj and B Vishnu Bhat.
• Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, JIPMER, Puducherry, 605 006, India. skb_bmc@yahoo.co.in
• J. Trop. Pediatr. 2012 Oct 1; 58 (5): 382-8.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) using gel packs in reducing mortality and morbidity in term neonates with HIE and study the associated problems with TH.MethodsHypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy babies were randomized into TH and control group. Babies in TH group were cooled for first 72 h of birth using cloth covered cooling gel packs to maintain target rectal temperature of 33-34°C. Infants were followed up to 6 months and were assessed using Baroda Developmental Screening Test.ResultsThere were no significant differences in baseline parameters. TH group showed significant reduction in the combined rate of death or developmental delay at 6 months of age by 21% (8.1% in the TH group vs. 29% in the control, RR 0.28, 95% CI: 0.11-0.70; p = 0.003).ConclusionsTH using gel packs reduces the risk of death or developmental delay at 6 months of age in infants with HIE.

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