Report of a pilot study of Cooling four preterm infants 32–35 weeks gestation with HIE

Abstract

This report reviews the use of the Cool-Cap device to apply selective therapeutic hypothermia to the brain of preterm infants, without causing systemic hypothermia. Four infants, 32–35 weeks gestation, with suspected Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) received treatment aimed at providing selective brain cooling. It was not possible to apply cold circulating water to the scalp of the preterm infant without systemic hypothermia unless a warming blanket was also used. All infants had severe HIE and all had either death, or neurologic disability despite cooling attempts. Therapeutic hypothermia cannot be recommended at this time for preterm infants outside clinical trials.