Clinical process and role of diagnostic tools in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: a 5-year retrospective review

Purpose: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a critical clinical process that leads to permanent/temporary brain damage in newborns due to inadequate oxygenation before, during, or after birth. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical, radiological, and laboratory results of newborns followed up with the diagnosis of HIE in our neonatal intensive care unit for five years. We also aim to reveal the clinical tools' prognostic importance in HIE. Materials and methods: We retrieved data from the hospital information system for infants who were followed up in Pamukkale University Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit between 2020 and 2025. We drew cord blood at birth and on the 24th day of life for blood gas and biochemistry parameters. We also retrieved the MRI and amplitude EEG results taken within the postnatal 3rd-5th days. Results: During the five years, 58 newborns were followed up with HIE, and 17 were excluded because there was an insufficient patient record. 23 of the patients were male and 18 were female. Follow-up lactate and albumin levels at the 24th hour were found to be related to the neurodevelopmental process. One of the patients died, and three of the survivors developed hearing loss. Conclusion: In our current study, we suggested emphasizing the importance of evaluating HIE with multidisciplinary clinical tools.