Text Box: CARDIAC FUNCTION DURING MILD THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA IN NEONATES WITH HYPOCIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
ZHOU WH, SHAO XM, CHEN C, HUAN GY, FAN SZ
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, China

Objective: To evaluate the effect of mild therapeutic hypothermia after hypoxia-ischemia on cardiac function.
Methods: After parental approval, forty babies of 37-41 week’s gestational age, with Apgar score £ 5 at 5 minutes, with evidence of encephalopathy , and abnormal EEG during 4 to 6 hours after birth were randomized to no cooling group (controls; rectal temperature 36.5±0.5°C, n= 17), or cooling group (rectal temperature 34.5±0.5°C , n=23). Head cooling was induced by circulating water for up to 72 hours. Stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO) and ejection fraction (EF) were calculated by the two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography (ECHO) at 72 hours after birth. 
Results: 
Group	HR(bpm)	MAP(mmHg)	EF(%)	SV(ml)	CO(ml/kg/mn)
ControlsCoolingP	126±14103±150.008	51±1157±70.53	58±661±40.65	7.1±1.36.9±1.70.73	277±41.5256±53.90.17
Conclusions: It is speculated that mild therapeutic hypothermia may not aggravate the left ventricular contractility and output in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephathy.
Key words: hypothermia, hypoxic-ischemic encephathy, echocardiography.
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