Hypothermia for moderate or severe neonatal encephalopathy in low-income and middle-income countries (HELIX): a randomised controlled trial in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

Although therapeutic hypothermia reduces death or disability after neonatal encephalopathy in high-income countries, its safety and efficacy in low-income and middle-income countries is unclear. We aimed to examine whether therapeutic hypothermia alongside optimal supportive intensive care reduces death or moderate or severe disability after neonatal encephalopathy in south Asia.

METHODS

We did a multicountry open-label, randomised controlled trial in seven tertiary neonatal intensive care units in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. We enrolled infants born at or after 36 weeks of gestation with moderate or severe neonatal encephalopathy and a need for continued resuscitation at 5 min of age or an Apgar score of less than 6 at 5 min of age (for babies born in a hospital), or both, or an absence of crying by 5 min of age (for babies born at home). Using a web-based randomisation system, we allocated infants into a group receiving whole body hypothermia (33·5°C) for 72 h using a servo-controlled cooling device, or to usual care (control group), within 6 h of birth. All recruiting sites had facilities for invasive ventilation, cardiovascular support, and access to 3 Tesla MRI scanners and spectroscopy. Masking of the intervention was not possible, but those involved in the magnetic resonance biomarker analysis and neurodevelopmental outcome assessments were masked to the allocation. The primary outcome was a combined endpoint of death or moderate or severe disability at 18-22 months, assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (third edition) and a detailed neurological examination. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02387385.

FINDINGS

We screened 2296 infants between Aug 15, 2015, and Feb 15, 2019, of whom 576 infants were eligible for inclusion. After exclusions, we recruited 408 eligible infants and we assigned 202 to the hypothermia group and 206 to the control group. Primary outcome data were available for 195 (97%) of the 202 infants in the hypothermia group and 199 (97%) of the 206 control group infants. 98 (50%) infants in the hypothermia group and 94 (47%) infants in the control group died or had a moderate or severe disability (risk ratio 1·06; 95% CI 0·87-1·30; p=0·55). 84 infants (42%) in the hypothermia group and 63 (31%; p=0·022) infants in the control group died, of whom 72 (36%) and 49 (24%; p=0·0087) died during neonatal hospitalisation. Five serious adverse events were reported: three in the hypothermia group (one hospital readmission relating to pneumonia, one septic arthritis, and one suspected venous thrombosis), and two in the control group (one related to desaturations during MRI and other because of endotracheal tube displacement during transport for MRI). No adverse events were considered causally related to the study intervention.

INTERPRETATION

Therapeutic hypothermia did not reduce the combined outcome of death or disability at 18 months after neonatal encephalopathy in low-income and middle-income countries, but significantly increased death alone. Therapeutic hypothermia should not be offered as treatment for neonatal encephalopathy in low-income and middle-income countries, even when tertiary neonatal intensive care facilities are available.

FUNDING

National Institute for Health Research, Garfield Weston Foundation, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

TRANSLATIONS

For the Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Singhalese, Tamil, Marathi and Bangla translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

ANGIOACCESS FOR HAEMODIALYSIS IN RENAL FAILURE-AN ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF THE BRESCIA-CIMINO FISTULA

Forty-six patients with end stage renal disease underwent forty-eight arteriovenous fistula formation by the Brescia-Cimino method between Jan 1994 and Jan 1997. The purpose of the fistula in all cases was to provide angioaccess for haemodialysis through the arterialised veins. Thirty-five (72.9%) of these fistulas were made on males, the remaining being on females. Mean age of the patients was 35.9 years. The fistulas were created in the left upper limb in 40 cases (83.3%) and the right upper limb was used in 8 cases (16.7%). The distal third of the forearm was used in all cases. During follow up, thirty-nine (94.1%) fistulas functioned for durations between 6 months to 2 years (average follow up of 14 months), permitting a mean of 2 dialysis per week. Seven cases (14.6%) had early fistula blockage. The end point for follow up was a successful renal transplant in the majority of patients. Except for nonpatency, and limb edema in two cases, no other complications were encountered.

Enteroclysis-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology of focal small-bowel lesions

PURPOSE

To study the role of enteroclysis-guided percutaneous fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of focal small-bowel lesions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty patients with non-palpable circumscribed small-bowel lesions found on enteroclysis underwent FNAC after confirmation of needle position under fluoroscopy.

RESULTS

Positive diagnosis was obtained in 18 (90%) of the patients. Thirteen patients with positive FNAC and one with inconclusive cytology underwent surgery. In all, the cytological diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology. No complications were seen.

CONCLUSION

Enteroclysis-guided FNAC of focal small-bowel lesions is a safe and accurate diagnostic method.

Hemangioma of the temporalis muscle

A rare case of an intramuscular hemangioma of the temporalis muscle is reported. The clinical examination, carotid arteriogram, computed tomographic scan, and aspiration cytology suggested the vascular nature of the tumor, but an exact diagnosis could only be made after histopathologic examination. Temporary occlusion of the ipsilateral external carotid artery and subperiosteal dissection permitted complete, wide excision without much bleeding.