Findings from the Neonatal Therapeutic Hypothermia Audit 2021

Mode of Delivery of Infants Requiring TH in 2021

60 infants underwent Therapeutic Hypothermia in 2021. The most common mode of delivery for infants requiring Therapeutic Hypothermia was vaginal cephalic delivery (30%), followed by instrumental delivery (27%), intrapartum C-section (23%) and pre-labour C-section (20%).

*2021 data for ‘All Births’ was taken from HIPE data based on women who gave birth in Irish hospitals. **HIPE uses two data categories for C-sections: ‘Elective C-sections’ and ‘Emergency C-sections’. Although this broadly matches with NPEC data, NPEC uses the categories ‘Pre-labour C-Section’ to include both elective and emergency C-sections carried out prior to labour, and ‘Intrapartum C-Section’ to include all C-sections carried out after the onset of labour.

Parity for mothers who delivered an infant requiring TH in 2021

52% (n=31) of mothers who delivered an infant requiring TH in 2021 was nulliparous. 48% (n=29) were multiparous. 

Sex of Infants who underwent TH in 2021

In 2021, 60% of infants who underwent Therapeutic Hypothermia were males. 40% of infants were female.

   *Data on 2021 ‘All Births’ was taken from the National Perinatal Reporting System run by the HPO.

Birthweight at Delivery of Infants Requiring TH in 2021

Of 60 infants who underwent Therapeutic Hypothermia at birth, 26 had a birthweight of between 3500 and 3999 grams, 16 had a birthweight of between 3000 and 3499 grams, 12 had a birthweight of less than 3000 grams, and 6 had a birthweight of greater than 4000 grams.

Gestation at Delivery of Infants Who Underwent TH in 2021

2 of the 60 infants who received TH were born before the gestational age of 36 weeks, which is a criterion for receiving the intervention. Most infants who underwent Therapeutic Hypothermia at birth in 2021 had a gestation at delivery of greater than 36 weeks. 29 infants had a gestation at delivery of between 36 and 39 weeks and a further 29 infants had a gestation at delivery of greater than 40 weeks. 

Sentinel Events in Mothers Whose Infants Required TH in 2021

27% of mothers whose infants underwent Therapeutic Hypothermia had a sentinel event during labour. The most common sentinel event among mothers whose infants underwent TH in 2021 was placental abruption (n=9), followed by shoulder dystocia (n=7).