Although the presence of brain damage in newborn babies is usually blamed on mismanaged deliveries, a new study by Loyola University provides evidence that this is not the case. The study examined the medical records of 32 full-term infants who ended up developing severe cerebral palsy and mental retardation, with the results showing that the brain damage occurred after birth.
"All too often in cases of professional liability, the focus is on the last two hours of a normal 7,000-hour term pregnancy," Jonathan Muraskas, who led the research, said in a press release. "This study would support closer scrutiny of the first two hours [following birth] as a possible [cause] for non-preventable adverse neurological outcomes in newborns."
Out of every 1,000 full-term newborns, approximately one to three experience brain disease that manifests as impaired levels of consciousness, seizures and difficulty breathing. Despite the fact that only eight to 14.5 percent of these cases stem from inadequate blood flow to the brain during delivery, many point the finger at obstetricians for mismanagement.
The study examined numerous cases, including 18 newborns that suffered from an infection called chorioamnionitis and 14 with severe anemia. Analysis of medical records showed that umbilical cord blood gases and deep gray matter were normal, suggesting that brain damage did not occur prior to birth. Furthermore, symptoms manifested after birth, with even the best resuscitation efforts failing to prevent brain damage.
The results suggest that even in the presence of appropriate neonatal management, many cases of chorioamnionitis and fetal anemia can have devastating effects on newborns, no matter how well the delivery goes.
The study was published in the Jan. 21 issue of the Journal of Perinatology.
