The American association of Obstet...

The American association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have issued a report examining the possible causes of infant brain damage. "Neonatal Encephalopathy and Cerebral Palsy: Defining the Pathogenesis and Pathophysiology" is available online at www.acog.org or through calling ACOG at 800-762-2264, ext 277 (ask for item AA432).

According to the report, the majority of newborn brain injury cases do not meet the eye during labor and delivery. Rather, mostly instances of neonatal encephalopathy and cerebral palsy are attributable to incidents occurring before labor begins.

Neonatal encephalopathy is characterized from abnormal consciousness, poor muscle tone and reflexe difficulty initiating or maintaining breathing, or seizures, and may or may not proceed in permanent neurologic impairment. In contrast, cerebral palsy is a chronic developmental disability of the central nervous method recognized by uncontrollable movement and posture

The vast majority of neonatal encephalopathy and cerebral palsy cases originate from developmental or metabolic abnormalities, autoimmune and coagulation foibles infection, trauma, or combinations of these factors.

Newborn encephalopathy and cerebral palsy are associated with significant mortality rates and long-term morbidity and have been central in the assignment of blame in obstetric litigation. However, the report confirms that hypoxia during labor or delivery is not a significant cause in principally of the cases of neonatal encephalopathy or cerebral palsy, with les than united fourth of infants with neonatal encephalopathy having any evidence of hypoxia during labor.

The report also conclud that an underlying issue before labor was the primary factor for the adverse consequence in 70 percent of neonatal encephalopathy cases and was contributory in another 25 percent

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group