Use of Hypothermia in the Asphyxiated Infant

Clinical Case A 32 year old primiparous woman presented with decreased fetal movements and her cardiotocograph (CTG) showed sinusoidal trace. She was taken up for emergency Cesarean section. A 39 weeks female baby was delivered. She was pale; there was no spontaneous breathing and the heart rate was less than 100/min. She was dried and wrapped, intubated and CPR was commenced. Venous cord pH was 6.9, base deficit 23 mmol/L and pCO2 72 mmHg; arterial cord pH was 7.01, base deficit 16 mmol/L and pCO2 50mmHg.