Comparison of Hypothermia Outcomes in Two Cooling Methods of Total and Head in Neonates with Asphyxia

Hypothermia is the most promising therapy care in infants with birth asphyxia. However, during cooling period brain temperature fluctuation will leads to cerebral edema and subsequently adverse effects on hemodynamic status and brain development. Therefore, this study was conducted to comparison of outcomes of hypothermia in tow cooling Methoead of total and head in nonates with asphyxia. Our Study was a desciptive comparative research, in which 50 infants with birth asphyxia were selected using convenient sampling method from a teaching hospital in Tabriz. These babies underwent head cooling up to target rectal of 34-35 °c temperature and total body cooling up to target rectal of 32.5-33.5 °c temperature. They remained in this temperature for 72 hours and then it was gradually increased during 8-12 h to 36.5 °c. During the cooling period possible of short-term side effects were observed and mortality was assessed. Data analyzed using SPSS v.17 and descriptive-analytical statistics. According to findings, the mean time to start cooling newborns in head cooling group was 5±1.6 hours and in total body cooling group was 4.5±1.8 hours after delivery during cooling temperature fluctuation in head cooling was about 0.37°c and in total body cooling was about 0.41°c. Meanwhile, in head cooling group, seizure with 19 persons (76%) and pulmonary hemorragia with 2 persons (8/%) and in total body cooling group seizure with 21 persons (84%) and pulmonary hemorragia with 3 persons (12/%), were respectively the most and the least common short time side effects. Hypothermia related complications did not differ significantly between the two groups (p<0.05). Findings showed that there is no significant difference between the two groups in short term complications of hypothermia and mortality rate in neonates with birth asphyxia Thus, hypothermia can be one of the most effective therapeutic approaches to increase survival rate and quality of life of infants with birth asphyxia.