Hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy is defined as what?

• A. An acute event with obvious distress, abnormal heart rate, followed by respiratory depression, tone abnormalities, CN disturbances, and seizures
• B. A chronic neurodegenerative disease in neonates
• C. A mild transient hypoxia without brain injury
• D. An infectious brain disease of neonates

Answer: (A)

Hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy is an acute brain injury caused by a perinatal loss of oxygen and blood flow. It starts with an evident distress event during labor, such as abnormal fetal heart rate, and after birth the infant typically exhibits respiratory depression, tone abnormalities, cranial nerve disturbances, and seizures as the brain injury evolves. This combination of an abrupt insult plus subsequent neurologic involvement distinguishes it from chronic neonatal conditions, mild transient hypoxia without brain injury, or infectious brain diseases.