Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the short-term outcomes and safety of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for neonatal encephalopathy in preterm infants at 34–35 weeks of gestation.
Study design
A matched retrospective cohort study of 20 preterm infants at 34–35 weeks of gestation and 40 infants at 36 weeks of gestation or more who received TH between the years 2015–2021.
Result
Short-term outcomes of preterm infants at 34–35 weeks of gestation who received TH were comparable with infants at 36 weeks or more of gestation who received TH regarding seizures, intraventricular hemorrhage, blood transfusions, subcutaneous fat necrosis, brain injury on magnetic resonance imaging, and mortality. These findings were consistent when short-term outcomes were adjusted for birthweight.
Conclusion
TH in preterm infants at 34–35 weeks of gestation is feasible and safe in our study population.
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Data availability
The datasets analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
We want to thank Eniko Szakmar, MD, PhD and Aisling Garvey MD, PhD for their help with MRI scoring.
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Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
SK carried out the analyses and drafted the initial manuscript, HE gathered clinical data, assisted with data analysis. ME and TE supervised the study, helped interpret the data, reviewed, and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript.
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The authors declare no competing interests.
Ethics approval
The included retrospective study was part of the Implementation of Optimal Neuroprotection in the Term Born Infant with Encephalopathy (Protocol #: 2017P000969) approved by the Institutional Review Board of Mass General Brigham. This is a retrospective study and received approval with an exemption, as the risks and safety concerns for participants were minimal. Consequently, the requirement for obtaining consent was waived. This study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
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Kim, S.H., El-shibiny, H., Inder, T. et al. Therapeutic hypothermia for preterm infants 34–35 weeks gestational age with neonatal encephalopathy. J Perinatol 44, 528–531 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-01874-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-01874-x
