Impact of restricting fluid and sodium intake in term asphyxiated newborns treated with hypothermia.

Aim: To study the consequences of restricting fluid and sodium intake in asphyxiated newborns treated with hypothermia.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of asphyxiated newborns treated with hypothermia from 2009 to 2015. The fluid, parenteral nutrition, and sodium, as well as the urine produced per day, were calculated. Sodium and creatinine concentrations were recorded. The presence/severity of brain injury was scored.

Results

Among the 202 newborns, 55% did not have their fluid and sodium intake restricted and 45% had their fluid and sodium intake restricted. Newborns for whom fluid and sodium was restricted had significantly lower sodium concentrations during hospitalization (p = .02) and tended to develop more often a sodium concentration lower than 125 mmol/L (p = .08). They also were more likely to experience worsening in their creatinine levels during hospitalization (p = .03) and developed more often acute kidney injury (p = .02). The incidence of severe brain injury was higher in those newborns (58 versus 43%, p = .12), although not statistically different.

Conclusion

A restrictive strategy for fluid and sodium intake did not appear to be beneficial for asphyxiated newborns treated with hypothermia and might even be harmful.