Current opinion in neurology
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Curr. Opin. Neurol. · Apr 2005
ReviewTherapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy in the newborn infant.
This review examines recent findings from experimental models and clinical trials of induced hypothermia as treatment after cerebral hypoxia-ischaemia in term newborn infants. ⋯ In term infants with HIE there is emerging evidence that both selective head cooling and whole body cooling are neuroprotective and safe. This is consistent with a wealth of experimental animal data and adult trials. Neuroprotection seems to be lost if cooling is started after 6 h. The challenge now is to complete ongoing trials. If meta-analysis confirms a therapeutic effect, then this may lead to selection criteria and treatment protocols for very early hypothermia in HIE at term.