4.5 Post Resuscitation Care - Therapeutic Hypothermia

Question 1

What is therapeutic hypothermia?

Answer 1

• Inducing hypothermia to protect the brain from neuronal loss following periods of moderate to severe ischaemic encepathology

Question 2

Within what timeframe should therapeutic hypothermia be commenced?

Answer 2

6 hours of birth

Question 3

What benefits are seen with therapeutic hypothermia if commenced within 6 hours of birth?

Answer 3

• A reduction in the combined outcome of death or major disability at 18 – 22 months corrected age
• A reduction in the number of survivors with cerebral palsy
• A reduction in neuromotor delay
• A reduction in cognitive delay