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Hypothermic treatment for neonatal asphyxia in low‐resource settings using phase‐changing material—An easy to use and low‐cost method
Author(s) -
Tran Hang T. T.,
Le Ha T. T.,
Tran Hanh T. P.,
Khu Dung T. K.,
Lagercrantz Hugo,
Tran Dien M.,
Winbladh Birger,
HellströmWestas Lena,
Alfvén Tobias,
Olson Linus
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.15331
Subject(s) - medicine , hypothermia , anesthesia , perinatal asphyxia , asphyxia , gestational age , rectal temperature , pregnancy , biology , genetics
Aim To evaluate whether phase‐changing material can be used for therapeutic hypothermia of asphyxiated newborns in low‐resource settings. Methods Prospective interventional study of asphyxiated term infants fulfilling criteria for hypothermia treatment at Vietnam National Children's Hospital from September 2014 to September 2016. Hypothermia was induced within 6 hours after birth and maintained for 72 hours by a phase‐changing material mattress with melting point of 32°C. Rectal temperature was continuously measured, and deviations from target temperature range 33.5‐34.5°C were recorded. Results In total 52 infants (mean gestational age 39.3 ± 1.1 weeks) included and cooled, the median temperature at initiation of cooling was 35.3 (IQR 34.5‐35.9)°C. The median time to reach target temperature was 2.5 (IQR 2‐3) hours. The mean temperature during the cooling phase was 33.95 ± 0.2°C. Throughout the cooling phase, the target temperature range (33.5‐34.5°C) was maintained more than 80% of the time. Rate of rewarming was 0.5 ± 0.14°C/hour. Conclusion Phase‐changing material can be used as an effective cooling method. Though not a servo‐controlled system, it is easy to induce hypothermia, maintain target temperature and rewarm infants in a slow and controlled manner without need for frequent changes and minimum risk of skin injury.