Afkøling som behandling efter asfyksi ved fødslen

In about 10 per cent of children with cerebral palsy, the most probable cause is birth asphyxia. The brain injury following birth asphyxia evolves in part over hours or days - as a secondary process. This opens a 'window of opportunity' for intervention. Decreasing the temperature by as little as 3°C appears to be effective. It is possible to identify babies with a 50 per cent risk of death or survival with cerebral palsy within 3 to 6 hours after birth. Pilot trials of cooling suggest that the side-effects of cooling can be managed. Randomized controlled trials are underway. Obtaining informed consent from the parents for these trials represents a particular challenge.