Therapeutic Hypothermia Treatment
Treatment used for some newborns who have moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)—brain injury caused by reduced oxygen/blood flow around the time of birth. It’s one of the few therapies proven to improve outcomes when used in the right babies and started fast.
Who it’s for (Eligibility)
- Term or near-term (commonly ≥35–36 weeks gestation)
- Within 6 hours of birth (this timing matters a lot)
Most established protocols consider cooling when a baby is:
Has evidence of a significant hypoxic event (examples used in trials/guidelines include very concerning Apgar/resuscitation needs and/or severe acidosis such as low pH/high base deficit early after birth) plus signs of encephalopathy on exam (abnormal tone, poor responsiveness, seizures, etc.).
Benefits (why it’s done)
For eligible babies with moderate–severe HIE, therapeutic hypothermia reduces the risk of death or significant neurodevelopmental disability compared with standard care in multiple major studies and guideline reviews.
