[Advances in the management of neonatal hypoxia].

INTRODUCTION

During the birth, physiological changes occur in virtually all organs of the child, including the central nervous system. In this transitional phase, it is possible some degree of hypoxemia, generally well tolerated by the newborn. But, if neonatal hypoxia is intense and continuous it can lead to neonatal encephalopathy, which characterizes a critical situation for the infant. The proper approach is essential to ensure a good long-term prognosis.

DEVELOPMENT: We up-to-date information regarding hypoxia neonatal and review recent evidence-based medicine publications addressing its approach.

CONCLUSIONS

Neonatal encephalopathy may be clinically classified into three levels of intensity. Mild cases usually have a good prognosis, moderate intensity cases have 30% chance of sequels, and severe intensity cases have more than 70% mortality and nearly all survivors have sequels. Recent advances occurred in two areas: in the diagnosis, with new EEG and MRI techniques, and in the treatment, with the advent of therapeutic hypothermia. There is the possibility of future use for stem cell therapy. The prognosis depends on the clinical classification, the neuroimaging data as well as the EEG.