Hypoxic Ischemic Hypoxic Ischemic EncephalopathyEncephalopathy

Neonatal Intensive Care NurseryNight Curriculum Series

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives• Know the etiology of hypoxic-ischemic

encephalopathy (HIE)• Know the criteria used to diagnose HIE• Review the clinical severity grading of HIE• Be able to describe the pathophysiology of

posthypoxic brain injury• Become familiar with the assessment tools available

to evaluate infants with HIE• Know how hypothermia is used for neuroprotection

and the criteria for using it• Become familiar with the results of trials of

allopurinol and opioids as neuroprotective agents

Case ScenarioCase Scenario• You are paged to a code in the delivery room.

Upon arrival, you are told that the patient is a 32 year old G2P1 woman whose last baby was delivered via C-section for breech presentation, but who wished to attempt a vaginal birth for this pregnancy. Right before you were paged, the woman, who is at term and had been in labor for the past 4 hours, suddenly complained of excruciating abdominal pain, became hypotensive, and fetal heart tones were lost. She is now under general anesthesia and the OB is performing an emergent C-section.

Case ScenarioCase Scenario• What is the differential diagnosis?• What are the implications of the maternal

condition on the fetus?• What should you expect in the immediate

management of the newborn in the DR?

Case ScenarioCase Scenario• The baby is delivered via C-section and is

brought to the radiant warmer. Initial assessment reveals an unresponsive floppy infant with no respiratory effort and a heart rate of 80bpm. Resuscitation is undertaken. Subsequent Apgar scores are 1, 4, and 7 at 1, 5 and 10 minutes, respectively. The baby is transferred to the NICU for further care.

Case ScenarioCase Scenario• What complications should you expect from

this delivery and what is the underlying pathophysiology?

• What diagnostic and prognostic studies should be done in the NICU?

• What treatments are available for this baby and what are the criteria to treat?

DefinitionsDefinitions• Hypoxia or Anoxia: A partial (hypoxia) or

complete (anoxia) lack of oxygen in the brain or blood

• Asphyxia: The state in which placental or pulmonary gas exchange is compromised or ceases altogether

• Ischemia: The reduction or cessation of bloodflow to an organ which compromises both oxygen and substrate delivery to the tissue

• Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: Abnormal neurologic behavior in the neonatal period arising as a result of a hypoxic-ischemic event.

Etiology of HIEEtiology of HIE• Maternal:

o Cardiac arresto Asphyxiationo Severe anaphylaxiso Status epilepticuso Hypovolemic shock

• Uteroplacental:o Placental abruptiono Cord prolapseo Uterine ruptureo Hyperstimulation with

oxytocic agents

• Fetal:o Fetomaternal hemorrhageo Twin to twin transfusiono Severe isoimmune hemolytic

diseaseo Cardiac arrhythmia

Incidence of HIEIncidence of HIE• Occurs in 1-6 per 1000 live term births in

developed countrieso 25% die or have multiple disabilitieso 4% have mild to moderate forms of cerebral palsyo 10% have developmental delay (this is similar to the control

population!)

PathophysiologyPathophysiology• The immature brain is in some ways more

resistant to hypoxic-ischemic events compared to older children & adultso This may be due to:

• Lower cerebral metabolic rate• Immaturity in the development of the balance of

neurotransmitters• Plasticity of the immature CNS

PathophysiologyPathophysiology• Gestational age plays an important role in

the susceptibility of CNS structureso < 20 weeks: Insult leads to neuronal

heterotopia or polymicrogyriao 26-36 weeks: Insult affects white matter,

leading to periventricular leukomalaciao Term: Insult affects primarily gray matter

PathophysiologyPathophysiology• Other factors that influence the distribution

of CNS injury:o Cellular susceptibility (neuron most

susceptible)o Vascular territories (watershed areas)o Regional susceptibility (areas of higher

metabolic rates, ie. Thalamus)o Degree of asphyxia

Potential pathways for brain injury after hypoxia-ischemia.

Perlman J M Pediatrics 2006;117:S28-S33

©2006 by American Academy of Pediatrics

PathophysiologyPathophysiology• Acute HIE leads to primary and

secondary events:o Primary neuronal damage: cytotoxic changes

due to failure of microcirculation inhibition of energy-producing molecular processes ATPase membrane pump failure cytotoxic edema and free radical formation compromised cellular integrity

o Secondary neuronal damage: May extend up to 72 hours or more after the acute insult and results in an inflammatory response and cell necrosis or apoptosis (fueled by reperfusion)

DiagnosisDiagnosis• There is no clear diagnostic test for HIE• Abnormal findings on the neurologic

exam in the first few days after birth is the single most useful predictor that brain insult has occurred in the perinatal period

• Essential Criteria for Diagnosis of HIE:o Metabolic acidosis (cord pH <7 or base

deficit of >12)o Early onset of encephalopathyo Multisystem organ dysfunction

Clinical Staging of HIE (Sarnat Clinical Staging of HIE (Sarnat

and Sarnat, 1976)and Sarnat, 1976)

HIE can be divided into Mild, Moderate, and Severe

Systemic Systemic Complications of HIEComplications of HIE

• Acute renal failure in up to 20% of asphyxiated term infants

• Myocardial dysfunction and hypotension in 28-50% of term infants

• Elevated LFTs in 80-85% of term infants• Coagulation impairment is relatively

common in severely asphyxiated infants• Supportive care required!!

Assessment Tools in Assessment Tools in HIEHIE

• Amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG)o When performed early, it may reflect dysfunction rather than

permanent injuryo Most useful in infants who have moderate to severe

encephalopathy• Marginally abnormal or normal aEEG is very reassuring of

good outcome• Severely abnormal aEEG in infants with moderate HIE

raises the probability of death or severe disability from 25% to 75%

Assessment Tools in Assessment Tools in HIEHIE

• Evoked Potentialso Brainstem auditory evoked potentials,

visual evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials can be used in full-term infants with HIE

o More sensitive and specific than aEEG aloneo However, not as available as aEEG and

there is a lack of experience among pediatric neurologists

• Therefore aEEG is preferred because of easy access, application, and interpretation

Assessment Tools in Assessment Tools in HIEHIE

• Neuroimagingo Cranial ultrasound: Not the best in

assessing abnormalities in term infants. Echogenicity develops gradually over days

o CT: Less sensitive than MRI for detecting changes in the central gray nuclei

o MRI: Most appropriate technique and is able to show different patterns of injury. Presence of signal abnormality in the internal capsule later in the first week has a very high predictive value for neurodevelopmental outcome

Management - Management - HypothermiaHypothermia

• Has become standard of care• Whole-body and head-cooling available

o Unclear if one regimen is superior to the other - currently either one is utilized, based on availability

• Aim to get core (rectal) temperature to 33-35º C for 72 hours o based on Cool Cap and NICHD Neonatal

Research Network trials

Hypothermia - Hypothermia - Mechanism of ActionMechanism of Action

• Reduces cerebral metabolism, prevents edema• Decreases energy utilization• Reduces/suppresses cytotoxic amino acid

accumulation and nitric oxide• Inhibits platelet-activating factor, inflammatory

cascade• Suppresses free radical activity• Attenuates secondary neuronal damage• Inhibits cell death• Reduces extent of brain damage

o DEATH OR SEVERE DISABILITY AT 18 MONTHS OF AGE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED!!

Criteria for Criteria for HypothermiaHypothermia

• Hypothermia is not effective for every babyo Currently only used in infants > 35 weeks

• Time interval between birth and initiation of treatment importanto Treatment must be started within 6 hours of

birth to be effective

UCMC Criteria for UCMC Criteria for HypothermiaHypothermia

• Infant must be 35 weeks gestation or more• Infant must have 2 of the following:

o Apgar score of 5 or less at 10 minuteso Mechanical ventilation or resuscitation at 10

minuteso Cord or arterial pH <7 or base deficit of 12 or

more within 60 minutes of birth

• Cooling must be started within 6 hours of birth

• Core temp goal of 33-34ºC for 72 hours

Pharmacologic Pharmacologic ManagementManagement

• Allopurinolo Some trials have shown a decrease in

mortality and a beneficial effect on free radical formation, cerebral blood flow and electrical brain activity

o Meta-analysis concluded that more trials need to be done using allopurinol as an adjunct to hypothermia to make a conclusion on its effectiveness in treating HIE

Pharmacologic Pharmacologic ManagementManagement

• Opioidso A few studies have demonstrated that

morphine and fentanyl may have a neuroprotective effect after HIE with less severe signs of brain damage on MRI at 7 days of life and better neurologic outcomes at 13 months of age

o However, long term effects of these medications are not known and more prospective randomized trials are warranted.

Gaps in Current Gaps in Current KnowledgeKnowledge

• What is the contribution of the fetal inflammatory response?

• Are there gender and genetic influences?• How can all drugs be delivered effectively across the

blood-brain barrier?• What additional evaluations should be performed at

the time of delivery to enhance therapy?• What are potential treatment strategies for infants

who initially present beyond 6 hours of age?

QuestionsQuestions1. The mother of a baby with suspected HIE

inquires about the possibility of a brain insult in her infant. Of the following, the single most useful predictor of brain insult in this infant is the evidence of:A. Abnormal neurologic exam findingsB. Cerebral edema on cranial USC. Elevated creatinine phosphokinaseD. Hemodynamic and pulmonary imbalanceE. Multisystem organ dysfunction

QuestionsQuestions1. The mother of a baby with suspected HIE

inquires about the possibility of a brain insult in her infant. Of the following, the single most useful predictor of brain insult in this infant is the evidence of:

A. Abnormal neurologic exam findings

B. Cerebral edema on cranial USC. Elevated creatinine phosphokinaseD. Hemodynamic and pulmonary imbalanceE. Multisystem organ dysfunction

QuestionsQuestions2. The severity of HIE can be graded as mild,

moderate, or severe, using a classification proposed by Sarnat and Sarnat. Of the following, the criterion most consistent with the diagnosis of mild HIE is:

A. Absence of seizuresB. Low Apgar scoresC. Need for assisted ventilationD. Proximal muscle weaknessE. Obtunded state of consciousness

QuestionsQuestions2. The severity of HIE can be graded as mild,

moderate, or severe, using a classification proposed by Sarnat and Sarnat. Of the following, the criterion most consistent with the diagnosis of mild HIE is:

A. Absence of seizuresB. Low Apgar scoresC. Need for assisted ventilationD. Proximal muscle weaknessE. Obtunded state of consciousness

QuestionsQuestions

3. Several ancillary tests have been proposed to improve the prediction of long-term outcome of infants who have suffered from HIE. Of the following, the most useful and practical test for determining the prognosis of HIE is:

A. Cranial ultrasound

B. MRIC. EEGD. Near-infrared spectroscopy

E. Somatosensory evoked potentials

QuestionsQuestions

3. Several ancillary tests have been proposed to improve the prediction of long-term outcome of infants who have suffered from HIE. Of the following, the most useful and practical test for determining the prognosis of HIE is:

A. Cranial ultrasound

B. MRIC. EEGD. Near-infrared spectroscopyE. Somatosensory evoked potentials

ReferencesReferences• Allan WC. The clinical spectrum and prediction of

outcome in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Neoreviews 2002; 3; e108-e115

• Delivoria-Papadopoulos M, et al. Biochemical basis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Neoreviews 2010; 11; e184-e193

• Fanaroff and Martin’s Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine: Diseases of the Fetus and Infant, 9th edition. 2011, p 952-976

• Marro, PJ, et al. Pharmacology review: Neuroprotective treatments for hypoxic-ischemic injury. Neoreviews 2010; 11; e311-e315

• Shankaran S. Neonatal encephalopathy: Treatment with hypothermia. Neoreviews 2010; 11; e85-e92