Neonatal Therapeutic Hypothermia

Historically, physicians have observed that people who were cold seemed to suffer fewer negative outcomes with certain injuries compared to those who were warmer.  The classic example is the child who falls through an icy pond and fully recovers despite being under water for many minutes.  Based on these observations and research with pre-clinical models, therapeutic hypothermia has been used in patients at risk for brain injury due to heart attack, stroke or spinal cord injury.

The precise mechanisms by which therapeutic hypothermia works are still unknown.  The current theory is that a lower core temperature slows biological processes and alters the timeframe during which bodily damage can occur.

This could be important in improving long-term outcomes of brain injury by restraining the progression of brain damage and by prolonging the therapeutic window during which treatments might be effective.

Who is eligible for neonatal therapeutic hypothermia at Nationwide Children's?

Timeframe for neonatal therapeutic hypothermia is critical.  Neonatal therapeutic hypothermia at Nationwide Children’s is only applied to babies that have been delivered at a minimum of 36 weeks of gestation and who have significant signs of possible brain damage.

If a neonatal patient is near-term or term (36 weeks or greater) and has suffered possible brain injury during birth, please call us immediately at (614) 722-4650 and our Neonatology staff will walk you through the referral process.

Neonatoal Therapeutic Hypothermia Research

As part of the NICHD Neonatal Research Network, Nationwide Children's is involved in two multicenter studies to examine the impact of neonatal hypothermia. Learn more about the "Optimizing Cooling" and the "Late Hypothermia" studies.