What is Asphyxia?

When does asphyxia occur?

What happens with asphyxia?

How does someone know if there is asphyxia?

How is asphyxia treated?

What is asphyxia?
Asphyxia is when there is less than normal oxygen delivered to the body or an organ and there is build up of carbon dioxide in the body or tissue. Not enough blood flow to an organ can cause asphyxia.

When does asphyxia occur?
It can happen any time--a long time before birth, shortly before birth, during delivery or after birth.

What happens with asphyxia?
If the period of asphyxia is short, the body may recover without damage. If the time is longer there may be injury that is reversible, not permanent. If the period is very long there may be permanent injury to one or more organs of the body.

How does someone know if there is asphyxia?
Before birth, asphyxia may occur without people knowing. If the pregnancy is high risk, the obstetrician may monitor the baby before birth looking for heart rate patterns, activity, and amount of amniotic fluid. If a baby is not doing well in the womb the heart rate pattern may become abnormal and/or the baby may stop moving. After birth, doctors can observe more directly the baby's heart rate, color, breathing and activity. Sick babies often have their heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and oxygen monitored all the time.

How is asphyxia treated?
The goals of treatment are to:

prevent further asphyxia by trying to make oxygen, carbon dioxide and blood pressure normal. Support the baby so the body can repair the damage that it is possible to repair

Your baby may need:

medicine for seizures
medicine to keep blood pressure normal
to be feed by vein
to be on a breathing machine
If your baby has seizures, s/he will probably have an EEG - electroencephalogram or brain wave test. In addition, your baby's doctors may choose to do other tests ( Head ultrasound, CT scan or MRI) if they think they are needed.

Source: University of Wisconsin and The Center For Perinatal Care at Meriter Hospital Madison, Wisconsin