Head cooling may help newborns at risk of brain damage:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Reducing the brain temperature of babies deprived of oxygen at birth could lower their risk of brain damage, according to a New Zealand trial published in the January 28 early online edition of The Lancet. Using a cooling cap made by Olympic Medical, of Seattle, Washington, researchers from the University of Auckland found that that 55% of the babies who received head cooling within six hours after birth died or were severely disabled, compared with 66% of those who received conventional care. Oxygen deprivation at birth affects around two in every 1,000 newborns. It is believed that a reduction in brain temperature of 2-5 degrees Celsius applied after oxygen deprivation can help lessen brain damage.