Birth Asphyxia

Birth Asphyxia

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

Birth asphyxia is a complex condition that can be difficult to predict or prevent. Prompt treatment is important to minimize the damaging effects of decreased oxygen to the baby. Specific treatment for birth asphyxia is based on:

• Your baby's age, overall health and medical history
• Severity of your baby's condition
• Your baby's tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the condition

Treatment may include:

• Giving the mother extra amounts of oxygen before delivery
• Emergency delivery or Caesarean section
• Assisted ventilation and medications to support your baby's breathing and blood pressure
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

In addition, an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine may be used for patients who are experiencing serious heart or lung failure. It delivers oxygen to your baby's brain and body as temporary support. ECMO is a technique similar to a heart-lung bypass machine, which assists your baby's heart and lung functions with an external pump and oxygenator. Blood is drained from the patient to an artificial lung where oxygen is added and carbon dioxide is removed and then the blood is pumped back into your child.

At UCSF Children's Hospital, we treat over 20 patients each year with ECMO and our success outcomes are among the highest in the country. Our team of experts is specially trained in ECMO and includes a neonatologist, surgeon, respiratory therapists and nurses with special training in the management of ECMO.

In addition to ECMO, we also offer a wide range of other types of mechanical ventilation and respiratory therapy, including high frequency oscillatory ventilation and inhaled nitric oxide.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated September 20, 2007