Perinatal cerebral ischaemia and cognitive dysfunctions in childhood

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a study to elaborate the perinatal cerebral ischemia and cognitive dysfunctions in childhood. The original study group consisted of 19 inborn neonates admitted to an intensive care unit during a 6-month period. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) determinations were attempted in all neonates who needed umbilical artery catheterization within the first few hours of life to monitor blood gases, metabolic state, and blood pressure. At age 3 years 9 months to 4 years the 15, survivors were re-examined neurologically and psychologically, including the Stanford–Binet scale, free play observation, and parental interviews. The results for each function tested in a given child were graded as normal, questionable, and clearly abnormal, based on clinical experience and the standardization of the psychological test. The IQ score was considered pathological if below 80. The high and low neonatal CBF groups were used as each other's controls. The results are summarized in Poor articulation, dysphasia, attention deficits, and low IQ were found significantly more often among the five surviving children who had had neonatal CBF values below 20 ml/100 g per minute.