Sick babies frozen in new treatment in bid to beat brain damage

Published on Friday 27 February 2009 08:43

DESPERATELY ill babies born starved of oxygen are being deliberately 'frozen' by Edinburgh doctors in a groundbreaking bid to prevent brain damage.

The revolutionary treatment involves plunging the newborns into a state of hypothermia – chilling their tiny bodies for up to 72 hours.

The treatment is particularly unusual as doctors specialising in neonatal care have, until now, tended to follow the traditional practice of keeping newborn babies warm.

Research has shown that by chilling newborns from the typical 36-37C down to just above 33C can help prevent brain damage and the onset of conditions such as cerebral palsy, learning difficulties and epilepsy.

The new treatment – the first of its type in Scotland – was used for the first time last month just weeks after staff at the ERI's Simpson Centre had completed their intensive training.

An Edinburgh mother, who has not been identified, is believed to have suffered complications during labour which led to her baby being born starved of oxygen.

Medical staff revived the child and within hours of delivery used the brand new equipment – a 'cool jacket' which fits over the infant and pumps chilled water through channels to help lower its temperature.

The baby, understood to have been initially 'non-responsive' when born, recovered well and was feeding within days. Monitoring over the next two years will establish how effective the treatment has been at preventing brain damage.

The 10,000 portable Criticool equipment – which can be quickly transported to other Lothian maternity units – was bought for the hospital using money raised by the Simpsons Special Babies Care Charity.

Julie-Clare Becher, consultant neonatologist at the Centre for Reproductive Health at the ERI, said:

"It doesn't quite save lives, but it does improve the outcome for those babies who survive without brain damage.

"It's like being placed in hibernation."

She added: "The treatment can't repair damaged brain cells, but it can prevent further cell deaths."

"It's a lot for parents to take in, but the results in trials have been fantastic."

CURING WITH COLD

HYPOTHERMIA occurs when the body temperature falls below 35C.

Once the temperature drops below 34C (92F), the effects of hypothermia can become life threatening, muscles can become rigid, pupils dilate and the pulse rate drops.

But medical researchers found that by deliberately inducing hypothermia they could slow down the oxygen required by the brain. Hypothermia therapy has been used to provide surgeons with precious time to complete complex operations. And it has helped some adults recover from brain and spinal traumas, heart attacks and strokes.

Using it to treat vulnerable newborns is a Scottish first. It could improve prospects for those babies by preventing life-shortening conditions.