Abstract

USUGA, María José et al. Velamentous cord insertion, ischemic-hypoxic encephalopathy, and neurological rehabilitation: A case report. Biomed. [online]. 2021, vol.41, n.1, pp.8-16.  Epub Mar 19, 2021. ISSN 0120-4157.  https://doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.5436.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a frequent and important cause of neurological problems in term and preterm newborns. A sentinel event of this entity is the vasa previa, specifically when there is an abnormality of the placenta such as a velamentous cord insertion. Some reports have shown the association between these two entities, but those regarding the recovery process and the neurological prognosis of children with both conditions are scarce. We present the case of a patient with a history of velamentous cord insertion and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who received therapeutic hypothermia (cool cap). We describe his neurological rehabilitation process and we calculated the percentage of probability of presenting this condition compared to the population without these factors. The patient was a five-year-old boy with an Apgar index at birth equal to zero at one minute and equal to two at fifteen minutes who developed severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy secondary to a velamentous cord insertion without prenatal diagnosis and a marked initial neurological and multisystemic compromise. The recovery process included early multidisciplinary management in the neonatal intensive care unit and a focus on early neurological habilitation. The patient is currently in school and he undergoes comprehensive therapies; on physical examination, he presents no motor or sensory deficiencies. His neuropsychological test suggests the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Children with severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy usually have disabilities due to motor, cognitive, and/or behavioral deficiencies. Having received therapeutic hypothermia and a structured rehabilitation process greatly reduced the expected deficiencies according to prognosis and have promoted satisfactory physical and neurological development.

Keywords : Umbilical cord; hypoxia-ischemia, brain; hypothermia, induced; neurological rehabilitation.

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