Birth Asphyxia: Prof RL Mbise PCH, Imtu
Birth Asphyxia: Prof RL Mbise PCH, Imtu
Birth Asphyxia: Prof RL Mbise PCH, Imtu
Prof RL Mbise
PCH, IMTU
BIRTH ASPHYXIA
OTHER NAME: ASPHYXA
NEONATORUM
Definition
1.Failure of the baby on the part of the
baby (newborn infant) to establish
spontaneous respiration immediately
following complete delivery
2.State of hypoxia after birth resulting in
Apgar score below 7
Etiology
Fetal Anoxia
This has been operational before the
birth of the baby. It is divided into
i. Anoxia resulting from inadequate
supply of oxygen. It arises from:
Maternal CCF
Maternal pneumonia
Maternal bronchial asthma
Bronchitis
Emphysema
Severe PIH.
All of which lower the O2 tension in
the mother’s circulation
ii. Anaemic hypoxia
This is due to severe anaemia of the
foetal blood, so severe that it cannot
carry sufficient oxygen to meet the
needs of the baby’s body tissues.
This occurs in:
Rh incompatibility
Foetal haemorrhage
Foeto-maternal transfusion
iii. Stagnant anoxia due:
Compression of the cord
Cord prolapse
Knotting of the cord
iv. Histotoxic anoxia due to poisoning
or damage of the foetal tissues
especially the CNS by:
Drugs - Pethidine
- Chloroethylene
- Morphine
- Hyoscine and related drugs
Natal and Postnatal anoxia
1.Abruptio placenta
2.Preterm baby – intra-ventricular
haemorrhage
3.Diaphragmatic hernia
4.Laryngeal web
Diagnosis
Use of APGAR SCORE
Sign Score
0 1 2