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Ongoing construction may impact traffic around University Hospital, American Family Children's Hospital and Waisman Center. Please allow for additional travel time.Read more
Your baby has signs of a very serious condition called hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). HIE is when there is less than normal amounts of oxygen (hypoxia) or reduced blood flow (ischemia) to the brain. This can lead to brain injury.
Your doctors suggest hypothermia treatment or “Whole Body Cooling.” Cooling the body slows the body down and can decrease injury to the brain.
HIE can happen at any time – before, during or after birth.
Lack of oxygen and blood supply to the brain can cause brain injury. This brain injury can be mild, moderate or severe. Recovery looks different for all babies. Long-term effects include problems learning, thinking, and speaking (called “cognitive problems”) later in childhood. It can also lead to problems with walking or coordination (called “motor problems”). This is sometimes seen as cerebral palsy.
For some babies, this treatment will improve the long-term effects of HIE. Babies treated with hypothermia shortly after birth can have less brain injury and fewer cognitive and motor problems.
Babies who have HIE may have breathing or bleeding problems and problems with their heart, liver, or kidneys. As a result, your baby may have a slow heart rate, low blood pressure, or worsening of bleeding. We will treat these problems in the NICU.
Your baby will lie on a special cooling blanket that has water running through it. The water temperature can be changed to warm or cool the baby. We begin treatment within 6 hours of your baby’s birth and cool your baby for 3 days (72 hours).
We use a special thermometer placed in your baby’s esophagus to monitor your baby’s body temperature. Your baby will be cooled to about 92º F. After 72 hours, we will slowly re-warm your baby to a normal body temperature of 98. 6º F. This will take about 6 hours.
Your baby may need special IV access for medicine or blood products. Medicine can be used to keep your baby comfortable, treat seizures, treat infection, and maintain normal blood pressure. Some babies with HIE may also need the help of a breathing machine.
Your baby cannot eat any milk feedings during the cooling process. You should still pump your breasts and store the breast milk in the NICU. Your baby can eat it once the treatment is complete.
Your baby may look different during cooling. The skin may be pale or blotchy and may feel cool to the touch. You will be able to touch your baby during cooling, but you cannot hold your baby. Holding your baby may increase the body temperature. Your baby needs to remain in bed during the cooling and rewarming treatment.
Your baby will have testing done to assess brain function. An EEG will look at the brain’s electrical activity. It will also look for signs of seizures that are common in babies with HIE. An MRI will look at your baby’s brain structure and the extent of brain injury. These findings, along with physical exams, will help us figure out long-term effects of the brain injury.
After cooling treatment, we will teach you how to care for your baby and about any special needs your baby has. Once your baby is ready to leave the NICU, you will work closely with your primary care provider and other specialists. We will also assess your baby’s progress in our newborn follow-up program. This is a program in our clinic at the Waisman Center. At this clinic, we will look at your baby’s development over time, to figure out any other special needs your baby may require.