Hemodynamics and neurophysiologic assessments in infants with HIE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Hemodynamic and neurophysiologic assessments as predictors of outcomes in newborn infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
IRAS ID
337089
Contact name
Mona/MN Noureldein
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 28 days
Research summary
This study aims to improve how we predict brain injury and long-term outcomes in newborns who experience hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). HIE happens when a baby’s brain doesn’t get enough oxygen during birth, which can cause serious health problems like developmental delays or seizures. The current treatment, called therapeutic cooling, involves lowering the baby’s body temperature to protect the brain. However, it is difficult to tell early on how well a baby will recover, and parents often have to wait days for MRI scans to get a clearer picture of brain injury.
The study will be conducted at two hospitals—one in Canada and one in the UK—and will run until 2026. It will include babies with HIE who receive therapeutic cooling within the first six hours of life. The researchers plan to recruit 90 infants in total.
To better predict brain injury, the study will use three types of monitoring: heart function (via echocardiogram), brain blood flow (measured by near-infrared spectroscopy), and electrical brain activity (monitored by EEG). These tests will be done shortly after birth, and we want to check whether they can predict outcomes early, given brain MRI is typically performed between 5-7 days of life. The babies’ development will also be assessed when they are 18-24 months old to see how well the early test results predicted long-term outcomes.
The ultimate goal is to find ways to provide families with quicker and more accurate information about what to expect for their child. This could help doctors give better advice to parents early on and improve decision-making about care.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/YH/0232
Date of REC Opinion
22 Oct 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion