Using a cooling blanket to prevent brain damage in newborn babies

Cooling blanket therapy can help newborns deprived of oxygen

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A recent 18-month study has shown that the use of a cooling blanket can save the lives of babies that experienced oxygen deprivation at birth. This new procedure, called brain cooling, will help newborns suffering from moderate brain damage caused by lack of oxygen.
In this simple procedure, the newborn infant is placed on top of the cooling blanket. The blanket, which has cold water flowing through it via tubes, will cool the baby for 72 hours, lowering the body temperature to 91° Fahrenheit. As the body cools its systems also slow down causing a reduction in swelling around the brain thus preventing further damage from taking place.
Study results look promising with a shown decrease in seizure activity, cerebral palsy, and death. There was also an improvement noted in the mental scores, motor skills and vision of babies who received this type of therapy. Candidates for the use of a cooling blanket must be less than six hours old and born at 36 weeks gestation or older.
The following video explains this wonderful new therapy and shows what a big difference it made for one little girl and her family.

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*The Infant Health Examiner’s articles are meant to be used for education purposes only. Your pediatrician should always be consulted when you have questions regarding the health of your child.*