Role of Intravenous Magnesium Sulphate in Term Neonates with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) in a Low-income Country: A Randomised Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of magnesium sulphate in term neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in reducing mortality and morbidity.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomised clinical trial.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Department of Neonatology, Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from April to December 2019.

METHODOLOGY

Term babies (inborn or outborn), fulfilling the operational definition of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, reaching within 6 hours of delivery in Nursery Department of Pediatric Medicine Unit-II, Services Hospital, Lahore, were included. Sarnat score was used for staging the severity of HIE. Cases were administered magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) as intravenous infusion. Rest of the management was similar for cases and controls. Mortality was defined as death due to birth asphyxia; whereas, morbidity was assessed by comparing the following at discharge: the grade of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, presence and frequency of seizures, duration of seizures, ability to suck feed and neurological problems such as abnormalities of muscle tone and neonatal reflexes. Babies with prematurity, dysmorphism comorbidities or arriving after 6 hours of birth, were excluded. Chi-square test was used for comparison; and p value <0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Gender, mode of delivery, mode of resuscitation at birth, major risk factors (prolonged labour, premature rupture of membranes, presence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid) were comparable in both groups. The duration of seizures, ability to suck feed and presence of neurological problems at discharge were significantly better in magnesium sulphate group as compared to control group.

CONCLUSION

Magnesium sulphate is better in establishing earlier suck feed and reducing the duration of seizures and neurological problems in babies with birth asphyxia. Key Words: Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, Magnesium sulphate, Outcome, Term, Low income country.