Clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of neonatal encephalopathy - UpToDate

INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION Neonatal encephalopathy is a heterogeneous, clinically defined syndrome characterized by disturbed neurologic function in the earliest days of life in an infant born at or beyond 35 weeks of gestation, manifested by a reduced level of consciousness or seizures, often accompanied by difficulty with initiating and maintaining respiration, and by depression of tone and reflexes [1]. This section will review the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of neonatal encephalopathy. The pathogenesis of neonatal encephalopathy is discussed elsewhere. (See "Etiology and pathogenesis of neonatal encephalopathy".) ETIOLOGY Neonatal encephalopathy can result from a wide variety of conditions. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or birth asphyxia is responsible for some, but not all, cases of neonatal encephalopathy. Given that the underlying nature of brain injury causing neurologic impairment in a newborn is often poorly understood, "neonatal encephalopathy" has emerged a

INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION Neonatal encephalopathy is a heterogeneous, clinically defined syndrome characterized by disturbed neurologic function in the earliest days of life in an infant born at or beyond 35 weeks of gestation, manifested by a reduced level of consciousness or seizures, often accompanied by difficulty with initiating and maintaining respiration, and by depression of tone and reflexes [1]. This section will review the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of neonatal encephalopathy. The pathogenesis of neonatal encephalopathy is discussed elsewhere. (See "Etiology and pathogene