Cooling treatment for babies helps to reduce longer term brain damage and disabilities, such as cerebral palsy

A study published by the New England Journal of Medicine has shown that newborns who had been deprived of oxygen at birth and given cooling treatment had a greater chance of having a higher IQ at school age than if they hadn’t received the treatment.

Experts say that the study confirms the therapy has long-lasting benefits.

The procedure involves the baby being placed on an adapted mat and cooled at 33^oc for a period of three days, to help to reduce the brain injury.

Currently, approximately one in every 500 babies in the UK suffer from asphyxia, a lack of oxygen at the time of birth, resulting in the death of brain cells, and leaving babies at risk of brain damage and sometimes death.

Cooling treatment, also known as therapeutic hypothermia, works by slowing down the rate of harmful substances and cell death in the brain.

A team of scientists led by Imperial College London and the University of Oxford, reviewed children at the age of six or seven, who had suffered from brain asphyxia at birth.  They found that children who had received cooling treatment as babies performed better in tests of manual ability than those who had received standard treatment at birth.

45% of children who had received the cooling treatment had no abnormalities of the brain compared with 28% of those who had had standard treatment.  Of the children who had cerebral palsy, 21% had received cooling treatment, compared to 36% who had had standard treatment.

Professor David Edwards of Kings College London, lead author of the study, has said “What is remarkable about this study is that 20 years ago people thought nothing could be done for this group of patients who can suffer devastating brain damage.

“Now we have shown that something can be done.

“This is crucial research – without it we could not have been confident this is a long-lasting and worthwhile therapy.”

Dr Martin Ward Platt of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, has said “Re-examining the progress of these children at school age is incredibly important.

“It is enormously reassuring to know the benefits of this now mainstream therapy are sustained.”

According to researchers, the next stage will be to look at therapies that can work alongside therapeutic hypothermia and increase the chance of normal survival.

Our team of Medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex Medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record.  The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of Medical negligence.  He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in Medical negligence claims.  Tony also acts as the Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled.  Tony can be contacted by email on anthonymay@chadlaw.co.uk.  Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist Medical negligence Legal Aid and no win-no fee solicitors for free legal advice on the freephone number below.

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP ( anthonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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