Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To examine perinatal morbidity and rate of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in infants exposed to intrapartum sentinel events.

STUDY DESIGN:

Retrospective cohort study from 2000-2005. Perinatal mortality, perinatal morbidity and rate of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy were compared in 3 groups of infants exposed to different risk factors for perinatal asphyxia (sentinel events, nonreassuring fetal status, elective cesarean section).

RESULTS:

Five hundred eighty-six infants were studied. Perinatal mortality was 6% in the sentinel event group and 0.3% in the nonreassuring fetal status group (relative risk, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.95-2.94). Perinatal morbidity was 2-6 times more frequent in infants exposed to sentinel events; the incidence of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was 10%, compared with 2.5% in the nonreassuring fetal status group (relative risk, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-2.52). No infant in the elective cesarean section group died, had perinatal morbidity, or developed encephalopathy.

CONCLUSION:

Intrapartum sentinel events are associated with a high incidence of perinatal morbidity and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

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