Muhammad Azam, Fiaz Ahmad Malik, Pervaiz Akbar Khan.
Birth asphyxia.
Professional Med J Jan ;11(4):416-22.

Birth asphyxia and the hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are one of the very common neonatal problems in our country. It is commonest cause of hospital admission of a newborn. Objectives: 1) To determine the incidence of different risk factors leading to birth asphyxia in babies delivered at Nishtar Hospital, Multan. 2) To find out common clinical presentation of birth asphyxia. 3) To suggest measures for the prevention of birth asphyxia and the disability resulting from it. Material and methods: This study was conducted in the department of pediatric medicine, Nishtar Hospital, Multan. All babies born at Nishtar Hospital, Multan, presenting with history of delayed cry ar birth for more than 1 minute and newborns of less than 7 days of age born at Nishtar Hospital, Multan presenting any complication of birth asphyxia were included in the study. Results: The incidence of birth asphyxia is higher in preterm, intrauterine growth retarded and infants of diabetic and toxemic mothers. Specific problems and complications of birth asphyxia depend upon infant’s gestational age (outcome is poorest in preterm), efficiency of resuscitation and severity of the hypoxic – ischemic encephalopathy. About 6% of all live births are estimated to be asphyxiated at birth. Apgar score is widely used criterion for diagnosis of birth asphyxia. Conclusion: Emergency caesarean section was noted as a significant risk factor of birth asphyxia. The common clinical features associated with delayed cry, with which asphyxiated babies presented were, grunting, cyanosis, meconium staining and meconium aspiration. Other risk factors were, prolonged rupture of membranes, antepartum haemorrhage, pregnancy induced hypertension, eclampsia, polyhydramnios, oilgohydramnios, diabetes mellitus, breech presentation, transverse lie and obstructed labour. Fetal distress was noted in almost two third of the asphyxiated babies. Birth asphyxia is common in males.

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