Analysis of 226 Asphyxiated Newborn Infants at The University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Summary: Two hundred and twenty-six asphyxiated infants with low (1 minute) Apgar scores were analysed. The incidence of asphyxia was 63 per 1000 live births. It was an important cause of neonatal mortality accounting for 28.6 per cent of neonatal deaths during the study period. Pulmonary pathology was responsi ble for asphyxia in all the small low birthweight infants, while in the normal birth weight infants the common factor was an extra-pulmonary pathology incompatible with extra-uterine life. Abnormal presentation, cephalo-pelvic disproportion, uter ine dysfunction and ante-partum haemorrhage were the major obstetric causes of asphyxia. The modes of delivery frequently associated with severely asphyxiated infants were breech and caesarean section. The most important clinical findings were hypotonia, hypothermia, absence of the Moro reflex and apnoeic attacks, while hypoglycaemia was an important complication.