MRI and withdrawal of life support from newborn infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Prognostic Indicators of Reorientation of Care in Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Spectrum

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical, electrographic, and neuroimaging characteristics in neonates with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who underwent reorientation of care using standardized scoring systems.

STUDY DESIGN

A nested observational substudy within a prospective hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy cohort was conducted. Group 1 comprised infants whose parents received the medical recommendation for reorientation of care, while group 2 continued to receive standard care. Encephalopathy scores were monitored daily. Amplitude-integrated and continuous-video-integrated electroencephalogram during therapeutic hypothermia were analyzed. Standardized scoring systems for cranial ultrasonography and postrewarming brain magnetic resonance imaging were deployed.

RESULTS

The study included 165 infants, with 35 in group 1 and 130 in Group 2. By day 3, all infants in group 1 were encephalopathic with higher Thompson scores (median 13 [IQR 10-19] vs 0 [IQR 0-3], P < .001). Electrographic background normalization within 48 hours occurred in 3% of group 1 compared with 46% of group 2 (P < .001). Sleep-wake cycling was not observed in group 1 and emerged in 63% of group 2 within the first 72 hours (P < .001). The number of antiseizure medications received was higher in group 1 (median 3 [IQR, 2-4] vs 0 [IQR, 0-1], respectively; P < .001). Group 1 had higher cranial ultrasound injury scores (median 4 [IQR 2-7] vs 1 [IQR 0-1], P < .001) within 48 hours and postrewarming brain magnetic resonance imaging injury scores (median 33 [range 20-51] vs 4 [range 0-28], P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Neonates with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who underwent reorientation of care presented with and maintained significantly more pronounced clinical manifestations, electrographic findings, and near-total brain injury as scored objectively on all modalities.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registration of the study cohort: NCT04913324.

Quantification of Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Prognostic Prediction of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is the leading cause of acquired neonatal brain injury with the risk of developing serious neurological sequelae and death. An accurate and robust prediction of short- and long-term outcomes may provide clinicians and families with fundamental evidence for their decision-making, the design of treatment strategies, and the discussion of developmental intervention plans after discharge. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is one of the most powerful neuroimaging tools with which to predict the prognosis of neonatal HIE by providing microscopic features that cannot be assessed by conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). DTI provides various scalar measures that represent the properties of the tissue, such as fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). Since the characteristics of the diffusion of water molecules represented by these measures are affected by the microscopic cellular and extracellular environment, such as the orientation of structural components and cell density, they are often used to study the normal developmental trajectory of the brain and as indicators of various tissue damage, including HIE-related pathologies, such as cytotoxic edema, vascular edema, inflammation, cell death, and Wallerian degeneration. Previous studies have demonstrated widespread alteration in DTI measurements in severe cases of HIE and more localized changes in neonates with mild-to-moderate HIE. In an attempt to establish cutoff values to predict the occurrence of neurological sequelae, MD and FA measurements in the corpus callosum, thalamus, basal ganglia, corticospinal tract, and frontal white matter have proven to have an excellent ability to predict severe neurological outcomes. In addition, a recent study has suggested that a data-driven, unbiased approach using machine learning techniques on features obtained from whole-brain image quantification may accurately predict the prognosis of HIE, including for mild-to-moderate cases. Further efforts are needed to overcome current challenges, such as MRI infrastructure, diffusion modeling methods, and data harmonization for clinical application. In addition, external validation of predictive models is essential for clinical application of DTI to prognostication.

Discussing brain magnetic resonance imaging results for neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy treated with hypothermia: A challenge for clinicians and parents

Context

Clinicians use brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to discuss neurodevelopmental prognosis with parents of neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH).

Purpose

To investigate how clinicians and parents discuss these MRI results in the context of HIE and TH and how these discussions could be facilitated and more meaningful for parents.

Procedures

Mixed-methods surveys with open-ended and closed-ended questions were completed by two independent groups. (1) Clinicians responded to clinical vignettes of neonates with HIE treated with TH with various types of clinical features, evolution and extent of brain injury and questions about how they discuss brain MRI results in this context. (2) Parents of children with HIE treated with TH responded to questions about the discussion of MRI that they had while still in the neonatal intensive care unit and were asked to place it in perspective with the outcomes of their child when he/she reached at least 2 years of age. Open-ended responses were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Closed-ended responses are presented descriptively.

Results

Clinicians reported uncertainty, lack of confidence, and limitations when discussing brain MRI results in the context of HIE and TH. Brain MRI results were "usually" (53%) used in the prognostication discussion. When dealing with day-2 brain MRIs performed during TH, most clinicians (40%) assumed that the results of these early MRIs were only "sometimes" accurate and only used them "sometimes" (33%) to discuss prognosis; a majority of them (66%) would "always" repeat imaging at a later time-point to discuss prognosis. Parents also struggled with this uncertainty, but did not discuss limitations of MRI as often. Parents raised the importance of the setting where the discussion took place and the importance to inform them as quickly as possible. Clinicians identified strategies to improve these discussions, including interdisciplinary approach, formal training, and standardized approach to report brain MRI. Parents highlighted the importance of communication skills, the stress, the hope surrounding their situation, and the need to receive answers as soon as possible. The importance of showing the pictures or making representative drawing of the injury, but also highlighting the not-injured brain, was also highlighted by parents.

Conclusions

Discussing brain MRI results for neonates with HIE treated with TH are challenging tasks for clinicians and daunting moments for parents.

Limitations of Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Predictor of Death or Disability Following Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in the Late Hypothermia Trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an accurate predictor for death or moderate-severe disability at 18-22 months of age among infants with neonatal encephalopathy in a trial of cooling initiated at 6-24 hours.

STUDY DESIGN

Subgroup analysis of infants ≥36 weeks of gestation with moderate-severe neonatal encephalopathy randomized at 6-24 postnatal hours to hypothermia or usual care in a multicenter trial of late hypothermia. MRI scans were performed per each center's practice and interpreted by 2 central readers using the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development injury score (6 levels, normal to hemispheric devastation). Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 18-22 months of age.

RESULTS

Of 168 enrollees, 128 had an interpretable MRI and were seen in follow-up (n = 119) or died (n = 9). MRI findings were predominantly acute injury and did not differ by cooling treatment. At 18-22 months, death or severe disability occurred in 20.3%. No infant had moderate disability. Agreement between central readers was moderate (weighted kappa 0.56, 95% CI 0.45-0.67). The adjusted odds of death or severe disability increased 3.7-fold (95% CI 1.8-7.9) for each increment of injury score. The area under the curve for severe MRI patterns to predict death or severe disability was 0.77 and the positive and negative predictive values were 36% and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI injury scores were associated with neurodevelopmental outcome at 18-22 months among infants in the Late Hypothermia Trial. However, the results suggest caution when using qualitative interpretations of MRI images to provide prognostic information to families following perinatal hypoxia-ischemia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00614744.

Understanding and addressing barriers to communication in the context of neonatal neurologic injury: Exploring the ouR-HOPE approach

Predicting neurologic outcomes for neonates with acute brain injury is essential for guiding the development of treatment goals and appropriate care plans in collaboration with parents and families. Prognostication helps parents imagine their child's possible future and helps them make ongoing treatment decisions in an informed way. However, great uncertainty surrounds neurologic prognostication for neonates, as well as biases and implicit attitudes that can impact clinicians' prognoses, all of which pose significant challenges to evidence-based prognostication in this context. In order to facilitate greater attention to these challenges and guide their navigation, this chapter explores the practice principles captured in the ouR-HOPE approach. This approach proposes the principles of Reflection, Humility, Open-mindedness, Partnership, and Engagement and related self-assessment questions to encourage clinicians to reflect on their practices and to engage with others in responding to challenges. We explore the meaning of each principle through five clinical cases involving neonatal neurologic injury, decision making, and parent-clinician communication. The ouR-HOPE approach should bring more cohesion to the sometimes disparate concerns reported in the literature and encourage clinicians and teams to consider its principles along with other guidelines and practices they find to be particularly helpful in guiding communication with parents and families.

Prognostic value of early, conventional proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in cooled asphyxiated infants

Background

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) commonly leads to neurodevelopmental impairment, raising the need for prognostic tools which may guide future therapies in time. Prognostic value of proton MR spectroscopy (H-MRS) between 1 and 46 days of age has been extensively studied; however, the reproducibility and generalizability of these methods are controversial in a general clinical setting. Therefore, we investigated the prognostic performance of conventional H-MRS during first 96 postnatal hours in hypothermia-treated asphyxiated neonates.

Methods

Fifty-one consecutive hypothermia-treated HIE neonates were examined by H-MRS at three echo-times (TE = 35, 144, 288 ms) between 6 and 96 h of age, depending on clinical stability. Patients were divided into favorable (n = 35) and unfavorable (n = 16) outcome groups based on psychomotor and mental developmental index (PDI and MDI, Bayley Scales of Infant Development II) scores (≥ 70 versus < 70 or death, respectively), assessed at 18–26 months of age. Associations between 36 routinely measured metabolite ratios and outcome were studied. Age-dependency of metabolite ratios in whole patient population was assessed. Prognostic performance of metabolite ratios was evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis.

Results

Three metabolite ratios showed significant difference between outcome groups after correction for multiple testing (p < 0.0014): myo-inositol (mIns)/N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) height, mIns/creatine (Cr) height, both at TE = 35 ms, and NAA/Cr height at TE = 144 ms. Assessment of age-dependency showed that all 3 metabolite ratios (mIns/NAA, NAA/Cr and mIns/Cr) stayed constant during first 96 postnatal hours, rendering them optimal for prediction. ROC analysis revealed that mIns/NAA gives better prediction for outcome than NAA/Cr and mIns/Cr with cut-off values 0.6798 0.6274 and 0.7798, respectively, (AUC 0.9084, 0.8396 and 0.8462, respectively, p < 0.00001); mIns/NAA had the highest specificity (95.24%) and sensitivity (84.62%) for predicting outcome of neonates with HIE any time during the first 96 postnatal hours.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that during first 96 h of age even conventional H-MRS could be a useful prognostic tool in predicting the outcome of asphyxiated neonates; mIns/NAA was found to be the best and age-independent predictor.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12887-018-1269-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prognosis as an Intervention

This article elaborates on how neonatologists and perinatologists might conceive of prognosis as an intervention with outcomes relevant to patients, families, and society at large and highlights aspects of this important area of practice requiring further study.

Decision making in neonatal end-of-life scenarios in low-income settings1

The challenge of decision making in end-of-life scenarios is exacerbated when the patient is a newborn and in a low-income setting. The principle of proportionate care is a helpful guide but needs to be applied. The complex interplay of benefit, burden, and cost of various treatments all need to be considered. In patients with severe neonatal encephalopathy, prognosis can be hard to determine, and a team approach to decision making can help. In low-income settings, or where there are limited resources, the ideal care needs to be incarnated in the real context. Issues of social justice also arise as finite resources need to be used prudently.

SUMMARY

Decisions regarding medical care become difficult when the patient is a seriously ill newborn baby. In the developing world, scarce medical facilities and minimal economic resources also limit possible treatment options. The Catholic Church offers practical ethical principles which can help the medical team and family to strive to do what is morally best in these difficult situations.

Severe intraventricular hemorrhage and withdrawal of support in preterm infants

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to determine whether withdrawal of support in severe 'intraventricular hemorrhage' (IVH), that is, IVH grade 3 and periventricular hemorrhagic infarction (PVHI), has decreased after publication of studies that show improved prognosis and to examine cranial ultrasonograms, including PVHI territories defined by Bassan.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort of preterm infants from 23 0/7 to 28 6/7 weeks' gestation in 1993 to 2013.

RESULTS

Among the 1755 infants, 1494 had no bleed, germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) or IVH grade 2, 137 had grade 3 IVH and 124 had PVHI. The odds of withdrawal of support, adjusted for severity of GMH-IVH and baseline variables, did not decrease after publications showing better prognosis. Among 82 patients who died with PVHI, 76 had life support withdrawn, including 34 without another contributing cause of death. The median number of PVHI territories involved was three.

CONCLUSION

Withdrawal of support adjusted for severity of GMH-IVH did not significantly change after publications showing better prognosis.

Challenges in neurologic prognostication after neonatal brain injury

Parents often ask neonatologists and neurologists to determine neurologic prognosis in the preterm and term infant after neonatal brain injury. Prognostication in these populations remains rather full of uncertainties. Knowledge of available diagnostic tests and their limitations allows the clinician to synthesize the most likely outcomes after neurologic injury. In this review, we describe the diagnostic tools available to the clinician, active areas of research, and challenges in neurologic prognostication of the neonate.

The 'ouR-HOPE' approach for ethics and communication about neonatal neurological injury

Predicting neurological outcomes of neonates with acute brain injury is an essential component of shared decision-making, in order to guide the development of treatment goals and appropriate care plans. It can aid parents in imagining the child's future, and guide timely and ongoing treatment decisions, including shifting treatment goals and focusing on comfort care. However, numerous challenges have been reported with respect to evidence-based practices for prognostication such as biases about prognosis among clinicians. Additionally, the evaluation or appreciation of living with disability can differ, including the well-known disability paradox where patients self-report a good quality of life in spite of severe disability. Herein, we put forward a set of five practice principles captured in the "ouR-HOPE" approach (Reflection, Humility, Open-mindedness, Partnership, and Engagement) and related questions to encourage clinicians to self-assess their practice and engage with others in responding to these challenges. We hope that this proposal paves the way to greater discussion and attention to ethical aspects of communicating prognosis in the context of neonatal brain injury.

A good resource for parents, but will clinicians use it?: Evaluation of a resource for paediatric end-of-life decision making

Background

Communication with parents about end-of-life care and decisions is a difficult and sensitive process. The objective of the present study was to ascertain clinicians’ views on the acceptability and usefulness of a handbook and web-based resource (Caring Decisions) that was designed as an aid for parents facing end-of-life decisions for their child.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted with a range of health professionals who provide care to children facing life-limiting conditions.

Results

Data analysis confirmed the acceptability and usefulness of the resource. Two major themes were revealed: 1. Family empowerment, with sub-themes Giving words and clarity, Conversation starter, ‘I’m not alone in this’, and A resource to take away, highlighted how the resource filled a gap by supporting and enabling families in a multitude of ways; 2. Not just for families, with sub-themes A guide for staff, When to give the resource?, How to give the resource and Who should give the resource?, explored the significant finding that participants viewed the resource as a valuable tool for themselves, but its presence also brought into relief potential gaps in communication processes around end-of-life care.

Conclusion

The interview data indicated the positive reception and clear value and need for this type of resource. However, it is likely that successful resource uptake will be contingent on discussion and planning around dissemination and use within the health care team.

Reporting Outcomes of Extremely Preterm Births

Published reports of extremely preterm birth outcomes provide important information to families, clinicians, and others and are widely used to make clinical and policy decisions. Misreporting or misunderstanding of outcome reports may have significant consequences. This article presents 7 recommendations to improve reporting of extremely preterm birth outcomes in both the primary and secondary literature. The recommendations should facilitate clarity in communication about extremely preterm birth outcomes and increase the value of existing and future work in this area.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and prognostication in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury: a vignette-based study of Canadian specialty physicians

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could improve prognostication in neonatal brain injury; however, factors beyond technical or scientific refinement may impact its use and interpretation. We surveyed Canadian neonatologists and pediatric neurologists using general and vignette-based questions about the use of MRI for prognostication in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic injury. There was inter- and intra-vignette variability in prognosis and in ratings about the usefulness of MRI. Severity of predicted outcome correlated with certainty about the outcome. A majority of physicians endorsed using MRI results in discussing prognosis with families, and most suggested that MRI results contribute to end-of-life decisions. Participating neonatologists, when compared to participating pediatric neurologists, had significantly less confidence in the interpretation of MRI by colleagues in neurology and radiology. Further investigation is needed to understand the complexity of MRI and of its application. Potential gaps relative to our understanding of the ethical importance of these findings should be addressed.

A failed attempt to conduct an individual patient data meta-analysis

A study-level meta-analysis has shown that proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a promising prognostic marker in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. An individual patient data meta-analysis could yield a prognostic tool with improved accuracy enabling well-founded clinical decisions. Our request to share patient data remained unanswered by five out of 18 research groups. Another four declined collaboration for various reasons, including own reanalysis of the data, and lack of parental consent. With less than 40% of the individual patient data available, we refrained from pursuing the proposed study. As future patients may benefit from it, policies mandating data sharing should be introduced.

Early identification of brain injury in infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy at high risk for severe impairments: accuracy of MRI performed in the first days of life

Background

Despite therapeutic hypothermia 30-70% of newborns with moderate or severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy will die or survive with significant long-term impairments. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the first days of life is being used for early identification of these infants and end of life decisions are relying more and more on it. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how MRI performed around day 4 of life correlates with the ones obtained in the second week of life in infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with hypothermia.

Methods

Prospective observational cohort study between April 2009 and July 2011. Consecutive newborns with HIE evaluated for therapeutic hypothermia were included. Two sequential MR studies were performed: an •early’ study around the 4th day of life and a •late’ study during the second week of life. MRI were assessed and scored by two neuroradiologists who were blinded to the clinical condition of the infants.

Results

Forty-eight MRI scans were obtained in the 40 newborns. Fifteen infants underwent two sequential MR scans. The localization, extension and severity of hypoxic-ischemic injury in early and late scans were highly correlated. Hypoxic-ischemic injury scores from conventional sequences (T1/T2) in the early MRI correlated with the scores of the late MRI (Spearman ρ = 0.940; p < .001) as did the scores between diffusion-weighted images in early scans and conventional images in late MR studies (Spearman ρ = 0.866; p < .001). There were no significant differences in MR images between the two sequential scans.

Conclusions

MRI in the first days of life may be a useful prognostic tool for clinicians and can help parents and neonatologist in medical decisions, as it highly depicts hypoxic-ischemic brain injury seen in scans performed around the second week of life.

[The contribution of the clinical examination, electroencephalogram, and brain MRI in assessing the prognosis in term newborns with neonatal encephalopathy. A cohort of 30 newborns before the introduction of treatment with hypothermia]

OBJECTIVES

Perinatal asphyxia complicated by hypoxic ischemic brain injury remains a source of neurological lesions. A major aim of neonatologists is to evaluate the severity of neonatal encephalopathy (NE) and to evaluate prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of brain MRI compared to electroencephalogram (EEG) and clinical data in assessing patients' prognosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty newborns from the pediatric resuscitation unit at Rouen university hospital were enrolled in a retrospective study between January 2006 and December 2008, prior to introduction of hypothermia treatment. All 30 newborns had at least two anamnestic criteria of perinatal asphyxia, one brain MRI in the first 5 days of life and another after 7 days of life as well as an early EEG in the first 2 days of life. Then, the infants were seen in consultation to assess neurodevelopment.

RESULTS

This study showed a relation between NE stage and prognosis. During stage 1, prognosis was good, whereas stage 3 was associated with poor neurodevelopment outcome. Normal clinical examination before the 8th day of life was a good prognostic factor in this study. There was a relationship between severity of EEG after the 5th day of life and poor outcome. During stage 2, EEG patterns varied in severity, and brain MRI provided a better prognosis. Lesions of the basal ganglia and a decreased or absent signal of the posterior limb of the internal capsule were poor prognostic factors during brain MRI. These lesions were underestimated during standard MRI in the first days of life but were visible with diffusion sequences. Cognitive impairment affected 40% of surviving children, justifying extended pediatric follow-up.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the usefulness of brain MRI as a diagnostic tool in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in association with clinical data and EEG tracings.

Neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy: most deaths followed end-of-life decisions within three days of birth

AIM

To investigate the circumstances surrounding end-of life decisions (EoL) of infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) and examine changes over a 10-year period.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of all infants with HIE who died during 2000-2004 and 2005-2009 in a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Madrid, Spain.

RESULTS

Of 70 infants with HIE, 18 died during the neonatal period. The mean age of death was 64.4 ± 51 h. In 17 of the 18 infants (94%), death was preceded by an EoL decision, four after withholding therapy (WH) and 13 after withdrawal therapy (WDT). All infants with WH were previously stable and without respiratory support, while all 13 infants in the WDT group had respiratory support and three were unstable. The age of death was greater in the WH group than the WDT group (122 ± 63 h vs 50 ± 34; p < 0.001). After the EoL decision, 11 (65%) infants received sedatives. There were no differences between the time periods.

CONCLUSION

In our cohort, most deaths in newborns with HIE were preceded by EoL decisions mainly within the first 3 days after birth. We did not find changes over the first decade of the 21st century, and death was mainly determined by WDT.

Early MRI in term infants with perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury: interobserver agreement and MRI predictors of outcome at 2 years

AIM

To compare diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and non-DWI magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and clinical biomarkers for prediction of 2 year developmental outcome in term infants with perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nineteen infants ≥36 weeks gestation with HIE were recruited and MRI performed day 3-7 (mean = 5). MRI was scored independently by three radiologists using a standardized scoring system. Lactate-to-N-acetylaspartate ratio (Lac:NAA) in the lentiform nucleus was calculated. Developmental assessment was performed at 2 years using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III). Interobserver agreement about abnormality in 10 brain regions was measured. Univariate analysis was performed to determine variables associated with adverse outcome (i.e., death or Bayley score for any domain <70).

RESULTS

Good interobserver agreement (kappa = 0.61-0.69) on scores for DWI was obtained for the cortex, putamen, and brainstem, but not for any region on non-DWI. A significant association was found between outcome and Lac:NAA (p < 0.003) and DWI scores for lentiform nucleus, thalamus, cortex, posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), and paracentral white matter (p = 0.001-0.013), but for non-DWI score only in the vermis or brainstem. A combination of Lac:NAA ≥0.25 or DWI/apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) signal abnormality in the PLIC had 100% specificity and sensitivity for poor outcome.

CONCLUSION

Interobserver agreement for non-DWI performed during the first week is poor. Agreement by three radiologists about the presence of abnormal signal within the PLIC on ADC/DWI images or elevation of Lac:NAA above 0.25 improved sensitivity without reducing the prognostic specificity of MRS in the 19 patients, but this requires validation in a larger group of infants with HIE who have been treated with hypothermia.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a prognostic marker in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: a study protocol for an individual patient data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The prognostic accuracy of 1H (proton) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy has been assessed by a criticized study-based meta-analysis. An individual patient data meta-analysis may overcome some of the drawbacks encountered in the aggregate data meta-analysis. Moreover, the prognostic marker can be assessed quantitatively and the effect of covariates can be estimated.

METHODS

Diagnostic accuracy studies relevant to the study topic were retrieved. The primary authors will be invited to share the raw de-identified study data. These individual patient data will be analyzed using logistic regression analysis. A prediction tool calculating the individualized risk of very adverse outcome will be devised.

DISCUSSION

The proposed individual patient data meta-analysis provides several advantages. Inclusion and exclusion criteria can be applied more uniformly. Furthermore, adjustment is possible for confounding factors and subgroup analyses can be conducted. Our goal is to develop a prediction model for outcome in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Brain injury following trial of hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study was to examine the relationship between brain injury and outcome following neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy treated with hypothermia.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

Neonatal MRI scans were evaluated in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) randomised controlled trial of whole-body hypothermia and each infant was categorised based upon the pattern of brain injury on the MRI findings. Brain injury patterns were assessed as a marker of death or disability at 18-22 months of age.

RESULTS

Scans were obtained on 136 of 208 trial participants (65%); 73 in the hypothermia and 63 in the control group. Normal scans were noted in 38 of 73 infants (52%) in the hypothermia group and 22 of 63 infants (35%) in the control group. Infants in the hypothermia group had fewer areas of infarction (12%) compared to infants in the control group (22%). Fifty-one of the 136 infants died or had moderate or severe disability at 18 months. The brain injury pattern correlated with outcome of death or disability and with disability among survivors. Each point increase in the severity of the pattern of brain injury was independently associated with a twofold increase in the odds of death or disability.

CONCLUSIONS

Fewer areas of infarction and a trend towards more normal scans were noted in brain MRI following whole-body hypothermia. Presence of the NICHD pattern of brain injury is a marker of death or moderate or severe disability at 18-22 months following hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy.

Neonatal ischemic brain injury: what every radiologist needs to know

We present a pictorial review of neonatal ischemic brain injury and look at its pathophysiology, imaging features and differential diagnoses from a radiologist's perspective. The concept of perinatal stroke is defined and its distinction from hypoxic-ischemic injury is emphasized. A brief review of recent imaging advances is included and a diagnostic approach to neonatal ischemic brain injury is suggested.

Withholding or withdrawal of life sustaining treatment for newborn infants

In the last two decades the survival of extreme preterm infants and sick newborn infants has improved significantly due to the advances in perinatal medicine. Despite this advance, for some babies, withholding or withdrawal of life sustaining treatment may be the best option in the interest of the baby. An overview of when to consider withholding or withdrawal of life sustaining treatment is described. The decision making process and factors influencing parents decision, how to resolve disagreement, what treatment can be withheld or withdrawn are explained. High quality palliative care must be provided after withholding or withdrawal of life sustaining treatment.

Current controversies in newer therapies to treat birth asphyxia

Despite major advances in monitoring technology and knowledge of fetal and neonatal pathophysiology, neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) remains one of the main causes of severe adverse neurological outcome in children. Until recently, there were no therapies other than supportive measures. Over the past several years, mild hypothermia has been proven to be safe to treat HIE. Unfortunately, this neuroprotective strategy seems efficient in preventing brain injury in some asphyxiated newborns, but not in all of them. Thus, there is increasing interest to rapidly understand how to refine hypothermia therapy and add neuroprotective or neurorestorative strategies. Several promising newer treatments to treat birth asphyxia and prevent its devastating neurological consequences are currently being tested. In this paper, the physiopathology behind HIE, the currently available treatment, the potential alternatives, and the next steps before implementation of these other treatments are reviewed.

A life worth giving? The threshold for permissible withdrawal of life support from disabled newborn infants

When is it permissible to allow a newborn infant to die on the basis of their future quality of life? The prevailing official view is that treatment may be withdrawn only if the burdens in an infant's future life outweigh the benefits. In this paper I outline and defend an alternative view. On the Threshold View, treatment may be withdrawn from infants if their future well-being is below a threshold that is close to, but above the zero-point of well-being. I present four arguments in favor of the Threshold View, and identify and respond to several counter-arguments. I conclude that it is justifiable in some circumstances for parents and doctors to decide to allow an infant to die even though the infant's life would be worth living. The Threshold View provides a justification for treatment decisions that is more consistent, more robust, and potentially more practical than the standard view.

Outcomes after central grey matter injury in term perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

Central grey matter damage following perinatal hypoxia-ischaemia frequently leads to death or motor abnormality often with deficits in other developmental domains. Predicting these different outcomes is difficult yet very important for early management, planning and providing for needs on discharge and later and not least for parents to know how their children will be affected. The best single predictor of the pattern of outcomes for an individual infant is an early MRI scan. We present a guide for predicting outcome at 2 years in different developmental domains based on the severity of injury seen in the basal ganglia and thalami (BGT) on neonatal MRI.