LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Define Asphyxia Neonatorum
- describe the etiology of Asphyxia
- list the circumstances that lead to Asphyxia Neonatorum
- describe its clinical characteristics
- talk about its treatment, including resuscitation.
DEFINITION
Asphyxia is an emergency that, if left untreated or treated ineffectively, can result in serious complications or death. It is the condition in which a viable newborn infant fails to initiate and/or sustain respiration after delivery due to hypoxia (low O2 in the tissues) and hypercapnia (high CO2 in the blood) before delivery.
etiology of Asphyxia neonatorum
1. During the Antenatal Period
Hypoxia: severe anemia, TB, asthma, pneumonia or cardiac conditions
A decrease in uterine blood flow due to vaso-constriction:
Eclamptic convulsions, postmaturity Birth trauma, such as in breech delivery
Umbilical causes: cord compression, true knots, cord prolapse and short cord 3.
2. During delivery
Abnormal presentations, prolonged labor, and hypertonic uterine contractions.
3. During the Neonatal period:
airway obstruction brought on by or aspirations of mucus, liquor, or meconium, congenital defects, and lung immaturity (poor surfactant),