Localized intestinal perforations as a potential complication of brain hypothermic therapy for perinatal asphyxia

Abstract

Brain hypothermic therapy (BHT) is becoming a frequently used standard of care for perinatal asphyxia. Although cardiovascular side effects, coagulation disorders, renal impairment, electrolyte abnormalities, impaired liver function, opportunistic infections, and skin lesions are well-known adverse effects of BHT in newborns, little information is available on the clinical features of intestinal perforation-related BHT. We herein report a case of therapeutic brain cooling for perinatal asphyxia complicated by localized intestinal perforation. In practice, the neonatologist should be aware that intestinal perforation in an infant with perinatal asphyxia is possible, particularly following BHT.

Keywords:

• Brain hypothermic therapy
• hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
• localized intestinal perforation
• perinatal asphyxia

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Mr. Takeshi Asakura for his detailed and precise advice related to the English writing of our manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest.