Resuscitation and intensive care of newborns with asphyxia

Local therapist

Burnatskaya

Svetlana Nikolaevna

33 years of experience

Local therapist, occupational pathologist. Member of the Russian Scientific Medical Society of Therapists

Make an appointment

Breathing problems and the sensation of a foreign body in the throat can be signs of developing asphyxia. Asphyxia belongs to the category of life-threatening conditions that lead to circulatory and respiratory disorders. Regardless of the causes, asphyxia requires urgent measures, since death is possible as a result of the development of acute oxygen starvation within a few minutes.

The basis for the development of asphyxia can be:

• damage to the respiratory muscles;
• the presence of an obstruction that does not allow air to enter the lungs;
• dysfunction of the respiratory center.

In recent years, doctors have had to deal with such a pathology as autoerotic asphyxia, which occurs as a result of sexual experiments.

General information about the disease

Asphyxia is diagnosed in 4-6% of children. Moreover, the percentage varies depending on the degree of prematurity of the fetus. In babies born before 36 weeks, the incidence of pathology reaches 9%, and in children born after 37 weeks it decreases to 1-2%.

Scientific definitions of newborn asphyxia boil down to the fact that the child cannot breathe independently or makes superficial convulsive breathing movements that do not allow the body to receive sufficient oxygen. The authors consider infant asphyxia as suffocation, in which other signs that the fetus is alive remain: there is a heartbeat, the umbilical cord is pulsating, the muscles are weak but contracting.

The reasons for the development of newborn asphyxia include a complex of risk factors that disrupt the blood circulation and respiratory functions of the fetus in the womb and during birth. The most common reasons include:

• conflict of Rh blood between mother and child;
• abnormal fetal development;
• pathologies of the nervous system in a baby;
• circulatory disorders, heart disease in the baby;
• intracranial injury that the baby received during the birth process;
• infections affecting the fetus in the womb (chlamydia, herpes, rubella, etc.);
• extragenital pathologies of the mother (thyrotoxicosis, anemia, diabetes mellitus);
• infectious diseases in the second and third trimesters;
• complicated childbirth;
• premature or post-term pregnancy;
• bad habits of the mother (effects of alcohol, nicotine, drugs on the body);
• malnutrition during pregnancySource: Asphyxia of newborns. Zhetpisova L.B. West Kazakhstan Medical Journal, 2011.

The most common cause of asphyxia is intrauterine hypoxia, that is, the baby lacks oxygen in the womb.

Whatever the causes of the pathological condition, it causes the same processes in the child:

• disrupts metabolism and blood circulation;
• thickens and increases blood viscosity;
• damage is caused to the brain, liver, heart, adrenal glands;
• organs swell, bleeding occurs;
• disruptions in the functioning of the central nervous system occur.

The longer the body feels a lack of oxygen, the more serious the degree of damage to tissues, organs and systems becomes.

Characteristic symptoms of the disease

Choking due to bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic disease of inflammatory nature, accompanied by bronchial hyperreactivity associated with immunopathological mechanisms and the main symptom of which is an attack of suffocation due to inflammatory swelling of the bronchial mucosa, bronchospasm and hypersecretion of mucus. If the disease lasts for a long time, its inflammatory nature leads to irreversible morphological and functional disorders in tissues.

Difficulty breathing occurs as a result of increased excitability of the bronchi, to which the respiratory tract reacts by developing a spasm and limiting the flow of air into the lungs.

Why does a person develop bronchial asthma? The root cause of the condition is the entry of an allergen into the body, in response to which the patient develops bronchospasm at different levels and a disruption of gas exchange processes. Non-allergic asthma attacks are much less common. The problem may lie in brain injury or developing endocrine disorders. The infectious-allergic type of asthma is formed as a result of chronic infection of the respiratory system, therefore this form of the disease is diagnosed in adults, and much less often in children. Pathogenic microorganisms and inflammatory processes lead to pathology of the bronchi, their anatomical structure and functions change. The non-infectious form occurs due to other allergens - it can be wool, food, medications, dust, chemicals.

During an attack, a sick person has severe wheezing, shortness of breath, and a dry cough. Particularly often, attacks overtake the patient at night, during sleep. To provide assistance, it is necessary, first of all, to stop an attack of suffocation, and also to determine the cause of the disease, for which you will need to undergo a set of appropriate examinations.

Obstructive pulmonary disease

This is a disease that develops as a result of an inflammatory reaction to the action of certain environmental irritants, which is manifested by a progressive decrease in the speed of air flow in the lungs and an increase in respiratory failure. The main provoking factors are smoking and occupational hazards, namely work in hazardous industries, for example, in a coal mine, in cement production. Predisposing risk factors contributing to the development of COPD:

• passive smoking;
• level of nutrition and socio-economic component of life;
• prematurity;
• hereditary factor.

The patient has a cough with increased mucus secretion, as well as disruption of the ciliated epithelium lining the respiratory tract. Against the background of obstructive pulmonary damage, a narrowing of the lumen of the pulmonary vessels occurs, pulmonary hypertension occurs, which leads to expansion of the right chambers of the heart (pulmonary heart) and the addition of heart failure.

Due to disturbances in pulmonary gas exchange, the main symptom occurs - shortness of breath, especially worse with movement and walking.

How to diagnose obstructive syndrome in a patient? First of all, the pathology is characterized by the presence of a constantly worsening cough. During a cough, a large amount of mucous sputum is released, and when an infection occurs, purulent sputum is released. Shortness of breath in this disease is gradually increasing, worsens with physical activity, and develops over time into suffocation.

Pneumothorax

It is formed as a result of a violation of the tightness of the lungs, as a consequence of a chest injury, when a certain amount of air accumulates in the pleural cavity. If after a while air stops flowing into the cavity, then we are talking about a closed pneumothorax. The open type of pathology implies that the air in the pleura constantly and unhinderedly communicates with the air of the environment. Vent or tension pneumothorax develops when, when inhaling, air is sucked into the pleural cavity, but when exhaling, it cannot come out without closing (collapsing) the defect.

Difficulty breathing occurs due to the difference between the air pressure inside the pleura and the atmospheric air. In this case, without emergency medical assistance, the person is at risk of death from both suffocation and traumatic shock.

Tumor lesions of the larynx, trachea, bronchi

In the respiratory organs, as in any other organs, both benign and malignant tumors, as well as tumor-like formations, can form - these processes cause mechanical injuries, harmful production factors, overstrain of ligaments, and their improper use during singing. For example, the appearance of tumors of the vocal cords is accompanied by hoarseness of the voice and rapid fatigue of the cords. A neoplasm on the vestibule of the larynx is manifested by a sensation of a foreign body, a feeling of a lump in the throat when swallowing. Sometimes the presence of a tumor causes sharp shooting pain in one or both ears. The appearance of ulcers on the tumor is accompanied by putrid, unpleasant odor from the mouth, as well as the release of ichor in the saliva.

Laryngeal tumors are very difficult to detect in the early stages, since they practically do not manifest themselves at all. Only over time does difficulty breathing and hoarseness in the voice appear. If a neoplasm appears on the trachea, along with it the person begins to suffer from a cough with sputum. Blood is visible in the mucus discharge.

Asphyxia also occurs in cases where tumors in the respiratory tract grow, causing mechanical obstruction with impaired air flow. To ensure free breathing, the patient needs emergency removal of tumors. It should be noted that such a measure brings only a temporary result, and gradually a new tumor may form in the patient.

The use of a stent (a mechanism in the form of a small mesh tube) makes it possible to eliminate suffocation and difficulty breathing. When folded, it is inserted through a bronchoscope, after which it expands in the respiratory tract and creates unimpeded penetration of air into the lungs.

Edema of the lungs and larynx

Swelling of the larynx accompanies some pathologies and is not regarded as an independent disease. It usually occurs as a result of inflammation, after mechanical trauma, for example, burns from hot drinks and aggressive chemicals, due to suppuration in the pharynx, tonsils, and root of the tongue. Radiological burns occur after radiotherapy or X-ray therapy of the neck and organs in this part of the body.

Another reason that provokes the appearance of laryngeal edema is acute or chronic infectious diseases:

• measles;
• diphtheria;
• scarlet fever;
• typhus;
• flu;
• syphilis;
• tuberculosis.

Edema of a non-inflammatory nature is formed as a sign of kidney, heart and vascular disease, general cachexia, due to lack of protein, liver cirrhosis, circulatory disorders, and also due to disease of the lymphatic system. In the case of allergies, the swelling is called angioedema, and usually spreads to the face and neck.

Swelling is especially pronounced in those parts of the larynx where loose connective tissue predominates - in the area of ​​the epiglottis, posterior laryngeal wall, aryepiglottic folds, and less often it appears in the area of ​​the vocal folds.

The patient feels the presence of a foreign body inside, he constantly has difficulty swallowing, voice disturbance, and a feeling of constriction of the larynx, which is characterized by the formation of a false croup. Laryngeal stenosis especially often occurs at night, and a person wakes up from a sudden attack of suffocation.

Pulmonary edema is a fatal condition for the victim, as it is accompanied by massive penetration of the liquid part of the blood into the lung tissue. May be accompanied by myocardial infarction, myocarditis, hypertension, cardiosclerosis, chronic and acute heart failure, accompanied by the formation of acute left ventricular failure, pneumosclerosis, chronic bronchitis, and damage to the nervous system. It can also develop due to poisoning or allergies.

In some cases, swelling of the lung tissue is formed as a reaction of the body:

• for the administration of drugs;
• for the extraction of ascitic and pleural fluid;
• for transfusion of too large volumes of solutions.

The process of edema development depends on an increase in pressure in the pulmonary circulation and an increase in the permeability of capillary walls. Such conditions are accompanied by effusion of the liquid part of the blood into the alveoli, as well as into the interstitial lung tissue.

The transudate that accumulates in the alveoli has a high concentration of protein that forms foam. Foam helps reduce the respiratory surface area of ​​the lungs, and the patient develops severe respiratory failure, accompanied by suffocation.

The danger of the pathology also lies in the fact that it can develop even in a healthy person after too intense physical activity, if as a result he has a rupture of the chordae tendineae in the mitral valve. Against this background, acute mitral insufficiency develops. The patient, in addition to the acute state of asphyxia, develops a cough with foamy sputum, pink-colored with blood.

Lack of air due to pneumonia

Pneumonia is an inflammatory process in the lungs of an infectious nature, the causative agent of which can be varieties of pathogens, fungi, viruses, bacteria, developing independently or as a complication of other diseases. It affects the alveoli of the lungs, the main function of which is to participate in gas exchange and the supply of oxygen to the body’s blood.

Pneumonia most often occurs in people with weak immune systems, the elderly and children. The disease usually begins acutely, with high fever, weakness, increased sweating, shortness of breath and, in severe cases, suffocation. If the development of the disease occurs gradually, the patient is bothered by a dry cough, lethargy, fatigue and headache.

Depending on the location of the inflammatory process, pneumonia occurs:

• focal: the disease occupies a small part of the lung tissue;
• lobar: the entire lobe of the lung becomes inflamed;
• segmental: occupies one or more segments of the lung;
• confluent: in this case, inflammation begins with small foci and gradually merges into larger foci;
• total: the most severe version of pneumonia, when the pathological process spreads to the entire lung.

Oncological processes in the lungs

They represent the formation of malignant neoplasms that affect the walls of the bronchi and lungs, grow rapidly, and metastasize to nearby organs and tissues. Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Its symptoms are so characteristic that it is difficult to confuse it with other pathologies. Tumors in the lungs are more often found in middle-aged men, especially often in smokers and passive smokers.

Gradually growing tumors displace lung tissue, affect their internal structure, make breathing difficult and cause suffocation in a person along with coughing, chest pain, as well as weight loss and lack of appetite.

Entry of foreign bodies into the respiratory tract

This problem is most relevant for young children, especially under 3-5 years old. In the process of learning about the world around them, children love to put into their mouths everything that comes to hand - small coins, small toys, peas. When you inhale sharply, for example, when laughing, frightened, or crying, these objects quickly and easily fall into the lumen of the larynx. The most common way foreign objects get in is during a conversation or while eating. By closing the lumen of the trachea with itself, the element blocks the access of air to the lungs. When a foreign object enters the larynx, it provokes a coughing attack - a reflex cough helps to push the element out through the oral cavity. However, in cases where a foreign body completely closes the lumen of the larynx or trachea, the victim experiences asphyxia, loss of consciousness, and then respiratory and cardiac arrest. The condition requires immediate first aid, otherwise the person dies in a matter of minutes.

When the bronchi are blocked, an inflammatory process develops in a person. Incomplete blockage of the airways is accompanied by severe bouts of coughing, noisy breathing with wheezing, and hoarseness. The patient feels panic, fear and anxiety. Against the background of insufficiency of air, cyanosis is observed in the skin of the face and upper body, widening of the wings of the nose when a person tries to draw in air through the nose as intensely as possible, as well as retraction of the intercostal spaces.

Complete blockage means that the patient is not able to take a breath at all, he loses his voice, and very quickly loses consciousness due to oxygen deficiency and dies if qualified assistance is not provided in time.

Anaphylactic shock in allergy sufferers

Anaphylactic shock refers to a deadly condition of allergy sufferers, when the victim experiences acute vascular collapse and lack of air. An immediate allergic reaction develops in response to exposure to an allergen in large quantities.

The condition is accompanied by vascular collapse and depression of vital functions. The patient has noticeably intense redness of the skin, he is tormented by a feeling of tightness behind the sternum, severe suffocation and lack of air, as well as increasing swelling of the tissues.

Severe swelling of the upper respiratory tract leads to complete disruption, to which the central nervous system reacts with a state of abnormal arousal, an attack of fear, and depression of consciousness. Then the person falls into a coma and dies if he does not receive medical help.

If a patient has an allergic reaction and anaphylactic shock of moderate severity, he also experiences breathing problems, shortness of breath, a hoarse voice, he develops a cough, and he also needs medical attention, but the life-threatening condition does not develop so rapidly.

Often the cause of anaphylactic shock is an insect bite, injection of drugs, ingestion of pollen, blood products, chemical elements and certain foods.

Chest injuries, myocardial infarction

Asphyxia occurs as a result of prolonged and strong compression of the chest or upper abdomen. A disturbance in the venous outflow from the upper half of the body develops in the body, venous pressure increases, as a result of which the victim develops multiple small hemorrhages in the skin, mucous membranes, brain and internal organs. Due to impaired blood circulation, the skin becomes bluish in color.

Traumatic asphyxia is often accompanied by contusion of the lungs and heart, and liver damage. In addition to pinpoint hemorrhages, the patient experiences alternating periods of agitation and lethargy, severe respiratory failure, swelling of the face, visual disturbances, rapid shallow breathing, and sometimes even impaired coordination and orientation in space. Without medical assistance, such a victim stops breathing and cardiac activity, resulting in death.

Myocardial infarction is a pathology that occurs as a result of obliteration or stenosis of the coronary arteries. Due to the fact that blood from the blocked artery cannot flow normally into the heart, the heart muscle experiences acute hypoxia and undergoes a necrotic process. Normally, a specific area of ​​the heart receives oxygen dissolved in the blood that is supplied to it by the artery. Blockage of this artery within 30 minutes provokes the death of heart muscle cells. In place of dead tissue, inelastic scars appear, due to which the organ cannot fully function. The heart, whose main function is pumping, begins to pump blood less easily as a result of a heart attack. During a heart attack, a patient experiences anxiety, pain in the heart and chest, lack of air and suffocation. Pain can migrate from the sternum and radiate to the jaw, arm, shoulder, or back.

The risk group for the development of pathology is overweight people, smokers, hypertensive patients, as well as those who lead a sedentary lifestyle, the elderly. You can recognize the approach of a heart attack by more frequent attacks of angina with shortness of breath and pain in the heart, but such a prodromal period does not always develop.

A dangerous complication of a heart attack is acute left ventricular failure and post-infarction pericarditis. In this case, patients experience a severe deterioration in well-being, accompanied by the following symptoms:

• swelling of the neck veins;
• severe shortness of breath;
• ascites;
• swelling of the legs;
• clouding and loss of consciousness.

Main signs and symptoms

The most obvious diagnostic sign is respiratory distress. It is this that subsequently leads to disruption of the cardiovascular system, weakening of the child’s muscle tone and reflexes.

Clinical manifestations of moderate asphyxia:

• lethargy, weakness;
• decreased motor activity;
• weak reactions;
• depressed reflexes;
• low-emotional cry;
• tachycardia;
• arrhythmic breathing, sometimes with wheezing;
• the skin is bluish, but can quickly turn pink.

The child's condition is considered moderate. During the first 2-3 days of life, he is in a state of increased excitability, which can be replaced by a syndrome of depression, weakness, and lethargy. The condition manifests itself as small tremors of the arms and legs, disturbed sleep, and weak reflexes.

In severe asphyxia, the clinical picture includes:

• lack of cry at birth;
• reflexes are severely depressed or sharply reduced;
• the skin is bluish, pale, with a “marble pattern”;
• breathing is shallow, arrhythmic and periodically absent;
• wheezing is heard in the lungs;
• the heartbeat is weak, dull;
• convulsions.

If acute severe asphyxia is successfully overcome, breathing normalizes within 2-3 days and reflexes are restored. Source: Fetal hypoxia and asphyxia of the newborn. Kuznetsov P.A., Kozlov P.V. General Medicine, 2021. p. 9-15.

Types of newborn asphyxia

Classification is carried out according to several criteria. First of all, depending on the time of development of the pathological condition, the following are distinguished:

• primary, or intrauterine asphyxia - develops directly in the womb;
• secondary, or extrauterine asphyxia – occurs in the first hours of the baby’s life.

In turn, primary asphyxia is also divided into two subtypes:

• antenatal, or chronic - develops even before the onset of labor;
• intrapartum, or acute - occurs during the period of uterine dilation and fetal birth.

Classification of asphyxia according to the Apgar scale

To assess the severity of asphyxia in a newborn, the Apgar scale is used. With its help, the doctor evaluates heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, skin color and reflexes, and then determines the severity of the pathological condition.

To give a rating, the doctor evaluates each of the five signs as 0, 1 or 2 points. Accordingly, the maximum and best score is 10 points. The assessment is determined taking into account the following criteria:

The condition is assessed in the first and fifth minutes of life. Accordingly, the child receives two ratings: for example, 8/10. If the score is 7 or lower, the baby’s condition is assessed additionally at the 10th, 15th and 20th minutes.

Depending on the Apgar score, the degree of asphyxia is determined:

• 1-3 points – heavy;
• 4-5 points – average;
• 6-7 points – mild or moderate.

The Apgar score is not highly sensitive. Therefore, if a child has abnormalities, additional diagnostics are necessary to assess asphyxia.

How to sign up

To make an appointment with a doctor at our clinic, you can use any of the following methods:

• online form on the website;
• by phone +7 (495) 775-73-60;
• through your Personal Account or Mobile Application.

If necessary, you can get emergency help by phone.

JSC "Medicine" (clinic of academician Roitberg) is located in the center of Moscow at the address 2nd Tverskoy-Yamskaya lane, building 10. The clinic is located near the metro stations "Mayakovskaya", "Tverskaya", "Chekhovskaya", "Belorusskaya".

Diagnostics

Asphyxia can be diagnosed during gestation (primary, or intrauterine) by:

• monitoring of fetal heart rate, which is carried out during cardiotocography;
• analysis of motor activity, breathing and muscle tone of the fetus, which is carried out during ultrasound examination.

In case of secondary or extrauterine asphyxia, the diagnosis is made taking into account the presence of signs of a pathological condition, the external condition of the baby, the severity of the lack of oxygen and further tests that are carried out after completing the emergency care algorithm for the child.

For diagnosis use:

• Apgar score;
• a blood test from the scalp, vessels of the fetal umbilical cord, during which the oxygen tension, carbon dioxide tension and blood acidity are determined.

In some cases, an ultrasound examination of the brain is also prescribed, which determines how much the central nervous system is affected. The examination also makes it possible to distinguish hypoxic damage to the nervous system from traumatic one.

Diagnosis confirmation

The diagnosis of asphyxia is confirmed by the absence of pulse, cardiac activity, or their weakening. There may be an increase in blood pressure at the very beginning of the process, an increase in the intensity of breathing (frequent breathing, but not deep). Terminal breathing that sounds like wheezing. The act of spontaneous urination, defecation, ejaculation - due to the weakening of all muscle sphincters in the body, as a rule, occurs in the last stages of the asphyxial state. Blood gas studies reveal a significant increase in carbon dioxide in the blood and a lack of oxygen.

Treatment

Clinical recommendations for asphyxia include the provision of first aid to the newborn as a priority. This is the most important step, which, if carried out competently, reduces the severity of the consequences of the pathological condition and the risk of complications. The key goal of resuscitation measures for asphyxia is to achieve the highest possible Apgar score by 5-20 minutes of the newborn’s life.

The stages and principles of ABC resuscitation allow for consistent and effective resuscitation of a newborn born with asphyxia. Source: Carrying out therapeutic hypothermia in newborns born with asphyxia. K. B. Zhubanysheva, Z. D. Beisembaeva, R. A. Maykupova, T. Sh. Mustafazade. Science of Life and Health, 2021. p. 60-67:

• Principle A (“airway”) is to ensure a clear airway during the first stage of resuscitation. To do this, you need to create the correct position: tilt your head back, lower it 15 degrees. After this, suck out mucus and amniotic fluid from the nose, mouth, trachea, and lower respiratory tract.
• Principle B (“breath”) – create ventilation, provide breathing. To do this, a jet oxygen flow is created - artificial ventilation of the lungs is performed using a resuscitation bag. If the child does not cry, tactile stimulation is added: stroking along the back, patting the feet.
• Principle C (“cordial”) – restore heart function. Indirect cardiac massage helps with this. If necessary, adrenaline, glucose, hydrocortisone and other drugs are administered. In this case, the auxiliary ventilation from the previous stage cannot be stopped.

Care for a newborn child who has suffered asphyxia is carried out in a maternity hospital. Babies with a mild form are placed in a special tent with a high oxygen content. In cases of moderate or severe asphyxia, infants are placed in an incubator - a special box where oxygen is supplied. If necessary, the airways are re-cleaned and freed from mucus.

The scheme of further treatment, recovery and care is determined by the attending physician. General care recommendations include:

• maintaining normal body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate;
• creating maximum comfort: optimal ambient temperature, comfortable position;
• carrying out respiratory therapy;
• conducting infusion therapy - administering fluid to meet needs Source: Protocol for therapeutic hypothermia for children born with asphyxia. Ionov O.V., Balashova E.N., Kirtbaya A.R., Antonov A.G., Miroshnik E.V., Degtyarev D.N. Neonatology: News. Opinions. Training, 2014. p. 81-83.

During rehabilitation, regular monitoring :

• baby's weight (twice a day);
• neurological and somatic status;
• volume of fluid consumed;
• nutrition composition;
• basic vital signs: pulse, blood pressure, saturation, respiratory rate;
• laboratory characteristics of blood, urine;
• X-rays of the chest, abdominal cavity;
• ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity;
• neurosonography;
• electrocardiograms, echocardiograms.

After discharge, the baby should be regularly monitored by a pediatrician or neurologist.

First aid. A reminder for those around you

First of all, call an ambulance! Next, free the airways from mechanical stress (remove the noose from the neck, remove heavy objects from the body, try to at least partially remove foreign objects from the airways). Assess the pulsation of the arteries in all possible places familiar to you (wrist, neck, thigh). Pay attention to the chest - whether it moves, whether it makes breathing movements. Assessing the situation should take a few seconds!

Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the doctor arrives. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is performed according to the principle of two mouth-to-mouth breaths, thirty chest compressions (pressures) in adults, two breaths and fifteen compressions in children. It is advisable to inhale using a mask or any thin fabric that allows air to pass through (for example, a clean handkerchief). People who have any diseases that can provoke asphyxia may have medications in the form of ampoules, inhalers, nebulizers in their pockets or near them.

If you are still in doubt and you do not have certain knowledge in the field of first aid, just call a doctor!

Consequences and complications

The pathology is quite dangerous and is one of the most common causes of child mortality. How favorable the prognosis will be depends on the severity of the baby’s condition and the Apgar indicator. If the score increases, the prognosis is considered favorableSource: Modern methods of treating neonatal asphyxia. Cherednikova E.N., Sherstnev D.G. Bulletin of Medical Internet Conferences, 2021. p.824.

However, with severe pathology, serious complications develop during the first year of life. Early consequences that may appear in the first few days after resuscitation include :

• respiratory arrest (the most common and dangerous complication);
• pulse failure;
• convulsions;
• cerebral edema;
• disruption of the urinary and digestive systems.

Later disorders include the following diagnoses:

• syndrome of increased excitability (hyperexcitability);
• increased intracerebral pressure (hypertension syndrome);
• lesions of the central nervous system (perinatal encephalopathy);
• disruptions in the functioning of the endocrine and vegetative-vascular systems (hypothalamic disorders).

With timely and competent medical intervention, as well as a high-quality recovery period, asphyxia of newborns may not have dangerous consequences in the future. Mild forms of asphyxia have almost no effect on the child; after the illness, his further development will proceed in the same way as in other babies.

Famous people who died from suffocation

History is replete with references to executions by hanging. Such a sentence was passed on robbers, murderers and other criminals who committed serious atrocities. Noble nobles laid their heads on the block, unlike ordinary people. Here will be listed those who, for various reasons, died from strangulation.

Decembrists

The sentence passed by the Supreme Criminal Court to hang five Decembrists was a mitigation of the painful death penalty by quartering. On July 13 (25), 1826, in the crownwork of the Peter and Paul Fortress, the lives of S. I. Muravyov-Apostol, P. G. Kakhovsky, K. F. Ryleev, P. I. Pestel, M. P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin were cut short. The first three fell from the noose and were hanged a second time. The previously existing tradition of pardoning those executed and replacing hanging with hard labor was abolished by Military Article No. 204 under Peter I.

Isadora Duncan

The tragic death of the famous dancer on September 14, 1927 occurred by an absurd accident. During a car ride in Nice, the artist’s fluttering scarf got tangled in the rear wheel of a convertible and literally pulled Isadora out of the car at full speed, breaking her spine.

Jacques Offenbach

The famous composer died of an attack of suffocation on October 5, 1880. His friend Johann Strauss, having learned about the sad event, interrupted his tour and rushed to Paris for the funeral.

Robin Williams

Around noon on August 11, 2014, the wife began knocking on the famous actor’s bedroom, concerned that he had not come out for breakfast. After breaking the door, she found Robin sitting by a chair with a belt fastened around his neck. The other end of the belt was inserted between the frame and the door leading to the wardrobe. Close friend Rob Schneider suggested that Robin was experiencing suicidal thoughts while taking a new drug for Parkinson's disease.

Prevention of newborn asphyxia

The expectant mother should be involved in the prevention of the pathological condition during pregnancy. To do this you should:

• attend routine gynecological consultations;
• adhere to the recommendations of the obstetrician-gynecologist;
• be sure to take vitamin complexes if prescribed by a doctor;
• monitor the condition of the fetus and placenta during routine ultrasound examinations;
• treat any diseases only under the supervision of a doctor, do not self-medicate;
• follow a daily routine, do not overload the body;
• get rid of bad habits;
• to walk outside.

In obstetrics, considerable attention is paid to the development of effective preventive methods that can reduce the risk of asphyxia during childbirth and during the first days of a baby’s life.

Sources:

1. Modern methods of treating newborn asphyxia. Cherednikova E.N., Sherstnev D.G. Bulletin of Medical Internet Conferences, 2016. p.824
2. Protocol for therapeutic hypothermia for children born with asphyxia. Ionov O.V., Balashova E.N., Kirtbaya A.R., Antonov A.G., Miroshnik E.V., Degtyarev D.N. Neonatology: News. Opinions. Training, 2014. p. 81-83
3. Carrying out therapeutic hypothermia in newborns born with asphyxia. K. B. Zhubanysheva, Z. D. Beisembaeva, R. A. Maykupova, T. Sh. Mustafazade. Science of Life and Health, 2021. p. 60-67
4. Asphyxia of newborns. Zhetpisova L.B. West Kazakhstan Medical Journal, 2011
5. Fetal hypoxia and asphyxia of the newborn. Kuznetsov P.A., Kozlov P.V. General Medicine, 2021. p. 9-15

The information in this article is provided for reference purposes and does not replace advice from a qualified professional. Don't self-medicate! At the first signs of illness, you should consult a doctor.

Treatment tactics after eliminating the causes

After eliminating the causes of suffocation, the patient is hospitalized, since the condition entails many functional disorders of the body. Monitor vital signs (respiration, pulse, blood pressure, etc.). If you are unable to breathe on your own, you will be connected to a ventilator. Cardiac disorders are corrected with various medications according to indications. Treat the underlying disease (bronchial asthma, infections, allergies, toxic poisoning). For violent types of asphyxia, consultation with a psychiatrist is possible in the future.

Prices