Developmental outcomes for infants with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) who have and have not undergone whole-body hypothermia
Date
2016-10-28
Authors
Pereira, Bianca Chantelle
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the developmental outcomes for infants between the ages of five and 16 months who had and had not received induced hypothermia at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH). Forty-three infants diagnosed with HIE II and HIE III were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development – III (Bayley-III) at baseline and were reassessed three to nine months later having received intervention from the transdisciplinary rehabilitation team at CHBAH.
The majority of infants (78.3%) who had and had not received induced hypothermia both presented with typical developmental outcomes at baseline with 21.7% having moderate to severe dysfunction. On reassessment (31 infants), the developmental outcomes deteriorated for both groups; with more infants in the group which had received hypothermia falling into the at risk category. In spite of this, the majority of infants (in both groups) that were reassessed were overall developmentally on par.
This study highlights the importance of on-going monitoring of infants with HIE, receiving home programmes and the need for therapeutic intervention after the age of one year with a focus on specific developmental issues. Standardized assessments are essential to facilitate more precise and effective intervention programmes.
Description
Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
Johannesburg, 2016