Birth Asphyxia

Birth Asphyxia

It refers to a signs & symptoms due to poor oxygen delivery to body organs.

Etiology: Ashyxia can occur before, during or after delivery:-

Intrauterine (before delivery) asphyxia: here there is no
sufficient gas exchange in the fetus through the placenta, occur in
the following conditions:-

- Interruption of the umbilical circulation as in cord prolapse.

- Poor perfusion of the maternal side of the placenta as in
maternal hypotension, pre eclampsia, abruptio placentae.

- Impaired maternal oxygenation as in asthma, pulmonary

embolism or pneumonia.


- Impaired fetal oxygenation or perfusion as in fetomaternal
hemorrhage or fetal thrombosis.

Causes of asphyxia during delivery:-

- Premature placental separation.
- Inadequate relaxation of the uterus to permit placental
filling as a result of uterine tetany caused by excessive use
of oxytocine during labor.

- Impedence of the circulation of blood through the umbilical

cord as a result of compression or knotting of the cord.

Causes of asphyxia after birth:-

- Anemia severe enough to lower the oxygen content of the
blood to a critical level due to severe hemorrhage or
hemolysis.

- Shock severe enough to interfere with the transport of

oxygen to vital cells as in adrenal haemorrhage, IVH,
overwhelming infection, or massive blood loss.


- Deficit in arterial oxygen saturation resulting from failure
to breathe adequately postnatally due to a cerebral defect,
maternal medication narcosis, or injury or due to
neuromuscular disease as myasthenia gravis or myopathy.

-Failure of oxygenation of an adequate amount of blood

resulting from severe forms of cyanotic congenital heart
disease or deficient pulmonary function as hyaline membrane
disease, neonatal pneumonia, meconium aspiration,
pneumothorax, diaphragmatic hernia, pulmonary hypoplasia,
or pleural effusion.

Clinical manifestations:-

Intrauterine growth restriction with increased vascular resistance may be the 1st indication of fetal hypoxia. During labor, the fetal heart rate slows. Continuous heart rate recording may reveal a variable or late deceleration pattern particularly in infants near term.





These signs should lead to the administration of high concentrations of oxygen to the mother and consideration of immediate delivery to avoid fetal death and CNS damage.


At delivery, the presence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid is evidence that fetal distress has occurred. At birth, affected infants may be depressed and may fail to breathe spontaneously. During the ensuing hours, they may remain hypotonic or change from a hypotonic to a hypertonic state, or their tone may appear normal.

Signs stage 1 stage 2 stage 3

-
level of hyperalert lethargic stuporous,
consciousness coma

muscle tone normal hypotonic flaccid

posture normal flexion decerebrate
tendon hyperactive hyperactive absent
reflexes

Moro reflex strong weak absent

pupils dilated constricted unequal,poor
response to
light

seizures none common decerebration

EEG normal low voltage suppression to

changing to isoelectric line
seizur activity


duration < 24 hours 24hr - 14 days days to weeks

outcome good variable death,severe

deficits

Treatment:-

Selective cerebral or whole body (systemic) therapeutic hypothermia reduces mortality or major neurodevelopmental impairment in term and near-term infants with HIE. Hypothermia decreases the rate of apoptosis and suppresses production of mediators known to be neurotoxic, including extracellular glutamate, free radicals, nitric oxide, and lactate.

Additional therapy for infants with HIE includes supportive care directed at management of organ system dysfunction. Hyperthermia has been found to be associated with impaired neurodevelopment, so it is important to prevent hyperthermia before initiation of hypothermia. Careful attention to ventilatory status and adequate oxygenation, blood pressure, hemodynamic status, acid-base balance, and possible infection is important.

Effects of asphyxia on different parts of the body

system effects
central nervous hypoxic ischemic enceohalopathy,
system infarction intracranial hemorrhage,
seizures, cerebral edema, hypotonia
hypertonia.

Cardiovascular myocardial infarction, poor

contractility tricuspid insufficiently
hypotention.


Renal acute tubular or tubular necrosis

adrenal adrenal hemorrhage

GIT perforation, ulceration, necrosis

metabolic inappropriate ADH secretion,

hyponatremia, hypoglycemia,
hypocalcemia, myoglobinuria.

Skin subcutaneous fat necrosis

blood DIC