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Baker AC, Mercurio MR, Donn SM, Fanaroff JM. Ethical and Legal Perspectives on the Treatment of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy in the Newborn. Clin Perinatol 2024; 51:725-734. [PMID: 39095106 DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2024.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates can cause severe, life-long functional impairments or death. Treatment of these neonates can involve ethically challenging questions about if, when, and how it may be appropriate to limit life-sustaining medical therapy. Further, parents whose infants suffer severe neurologic damage may seek recourse in the form of a medical malpractice lawsuit. This study uses several hypothetical cases to highlight important ethical and legal considerations in the care of infants with HIE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice C Baker
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, PO Box 208064, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Mark R Mercurio
- Program for Biomedical Ethics, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, PO Box 208064, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Steven M Donn
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Michigan Medicine, 1540 East Hospital Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jonathan M Fanaroff
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Rainbow Center for Pediatric Ethics, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Aoki H, Shibasaki J, Tsuda K, Yamamoto K, Takeuchi A, Sugiyama Y, Isayama T, Mukai T, Ioroi T, Yutaka N, Takahashi A, Tokuhisa T, Nabetani M, Iwata O. Predictive value of the Thompson score for short-term adverse outcomes in neonatal encephalopathy. Pediatr Res 2023; 93:1057-1063. [PMID: 35908094 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02212-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To explore the predictive value of the Thompson score during the first 4 days of life for estimating short-term adverse outcomes in neonatal encephalopathy. METHODS This observational study evaluated infants with neonatal encephalopathy (≥36 weeks of gestation) registered in a multicenter cohort of cooled infants in Japan. The Thompson score was evaluated at 0-24, 24-48, 48-72, and 72-90 h of age. Adverse outcomes included death, survival with respiratory impairment (requiring tracheostomy), or survival with feeding impairment (requiring gavage feeding) at discharge. RESULTS Of the 632 infants, 21 (3.3%) died, 59 (9.3%) survived with respiratory impairment, and 113 (17.9%) survived with feeding impairment. The Thompson score throughout the first 4 days accurately predicted death, respiratory impairment, or feeding impairment. The 72-90 h score showed the highest accuracy. A cutoff of ≥15 had a sensitivity of 0.85 and specificity of 0.92 for death or respiratory impairment, while a cutoff of ≥14 had a sensitivity of 0.71 and a specificity of 0.92 for death, respiratory or feeding impairment. CONCLUSION A high Thompson score during the first 4 days of life, especially at 72-90 h could thus be useful for estimating the need for prolonged life support. IMPACT The Thompson score on days 1-4 of age was useful in predicting death and respiratory or feeding impairments. The 72-90 h Thompson score showed the highest predictive capability. Owing to the rarity of withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in Japan, 43% of infants with persistent severe encephalopathy with a Thompson score of ≥15 at 72-90 h of age could regain spontaneous breathing, be extubated, and survive without tracheostomy. Meanwhile, approximately 50% of infants who survived without tracheostomy required gavage feeding. Our results could provide useful information for clinical decision making regarding infants with persistent severe encephalopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirosato Aoki
- Department of Neonatology, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Jun Shibasaki
- Department of Neonatology, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Kennosuke Tsuda
- Center for Human Development and Family Science, Department of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kouji Yamamoto
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Akihito Takeuchi
- Division of Neonatology, National Hospital Organization Okayama Medical Center, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Sugiyama
- Department of Pediatrics, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Isayama
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Fetal Neonatal and Reproductive Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeo Mukai
- Center for Advanced Medical Research, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Ioroi
- Department of Pediatrics, Perinatal Medical Center, Himeji Red Cross Hospital, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Nanae Yutaka
- Department of Pediatrics, Yodogawa Christian Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akihito Takahashi
- Department of Pediatrics, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takuya Tokuhisa
- Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Medical Center, Imakiire General Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Makoto Nabetani
- Department of Pediatrics, Yodogawa Christian Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Osuke Iwata
- Center for Human Development and Family Science, Department of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, Japan
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Wintermark P, Mohammad K, Bonifacio SL. Proposing a care practice bundle for neonatal encephalopathy during therapeutic hypothermia. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 2021; 26:101303. [PMID: 34711527 DOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2021.101303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Neonates with neonatal encephalopathy (NE) often present with multi-organ dysfunction that requires multidisciplinary specialized management. Care of the neonate with NE is thus complex with interaction between the brain and various organ systems. Illness severity during the first days of birth, and not only during the initial hypoxia-ischemia event, is a significant predictor of adverse outcomes in neonates with NE treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). We thus propose a care practice bundle dedicated to support the injured neonatal brain that is based on the current best evidence for each organ system. The impact of using such bundle on outcomes in NE remains to be demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Wintermark
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Khorshid Mohammad
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of Calgary, 28 Oki Drive NW, T3B 6A8, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Sonia L Bonifacio
- Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 750 Welch Road, Suite 315, 94304, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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- Newborn Brain Society, PO Box 200783, Roxbury Crossing, 02120, MA, USA
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