Association between hypocapnia and ventilation during the first days of life and brain injury in asphyxiated newborns treated with hypothermia

Therapeutic hypothermia is the standard treatment for asphyxiated newborns. Since hypocapnia is common in these newborns, the aim of this study was to assess the association among hypocapnia, ventilation, and brain injury.We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all asphyxiated newborns treated with hypothermia from 2008 to 2014. Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCOOne hundred ninety-eight asphyxiated newborns were treated with hypothermia. During the first 2 days of life, intubated newborns had consistently lower pCOIntubated and ventilated asphyxiated newborns experienced more severe hypocapnia, and had higher incidences of brain injury. Hypocapnia during the first 4 days of life was associated with an increased risk of developing (more severe) brain injury.