Brain cooling in babies: are we ready for clinical trials in developing countries?

Therapeutic hypothermia for moderate and severe hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in newborns using low-cost devices - ice packs and phase changing material

Background: Different methods have been used for therapeutic hypothermia for neonates with moderate-to-severe hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). As standard cooling devices are expensive, there is a need to establish the safety and efficacy of low-cost devices such as ice packs (IP) and phase changing material (PCM). Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) and the clinico-laboratory profile of neonates who underwent cooling with IP or PCM. Methods: The study was retrospective. TH for moderate-to-severe HIE was initiated with IP between 2012 and 2014 and with PCM (MiraCradle^TM) from September 2014. A standard protocol for inclusion and management during TH was used for all newborns. All data were collected by means of a local cooling registry. Results: Sixty-two cooled newborns (IP 29, PCM 33) were included in the study. Mean gestational age was 38.6 (1.7) weeks and mean birthweight 2920.6 g (450.7); 66.1% were inborn and 91.9% had moderate encephalopathy. Mean (SD) core temperature during cooling was 33.47°C (0.33) for PCM and 33.44°C (0.34) for IP. Adverse events observed during TH were thrombocytopenia (54.8%), coagulopathy (30.6%), shock (30.6%), skin changes (12.9%) and persistent pulmonary hypertension (8.1%). Forty-nine infants were discharged, two died and 11 were discharged against medical advice. TH was prematurely stopped in seven newborns with serious adverse events such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), gangrene and arrhythmia (IP 5, PCM 2). Conclusion: Low-cost devices are safe and effective alternatives for maintaining TH in low-resource settings with adequate monitoring. Abbreviations: DAMA, discharged against medical advice; DIC, disseminated intravascular coagulation; HELIX, Hypothermia for Encephalopathy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Trial; HIE, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy; IP, ice packs; LMIC, low- and middle-income countries; NICHD, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; PCM, phase changing; TH, therapeutic hypothermia (TH); TOBY, total body hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy.