Table 1. Patient characteristics.
| Parameter | Patients (N = 244) |
|---|---|
| Gestational age; wk, mean ± sd | 39.8 ± 1.6 |
| Birth weight; g, mean ± sd | 3,428 ± 613 |
| Birth weight ≤ 2500 g; n (%) | 16 (6.6%) |
| Male; n (%) | 150 (61.5%) |
| pH*; median (IQR) | 6.96 (6.80–7.09) |
| Base Excess*; mmol/L, median (IQR) | -17 (-12.0 –-21.9) |
| Lactate*; mmol/L, median (IQR) | 13.6 (9.0–18.2) |
| Thompson score#; median (IQR) | 9.5 (8.0–12.0) |
| aEEG on admission# | |
| Continuous normal voltage; n (%) | 30 (12.3%) |
|
Discontinuous normal voltage; n (%) of whom < 5 μV; n (%) |
102 (41.8%) 35 (14.3%) |
| Burst suppression; n (%) | 58 (23.8%) |
| Continuous low voltage; n (%) | 10 (4.1%) |
| Flat trace; n (%) | 27 (11.1%) |
| Unknown; n (%) | 17 (7.0%) |
| Mortality; n (%) | 58 (23.8%) |
sd = standard deviation, IQR = interquartile range
*Value measured in umbilical cord blood or, if unavailable, from arterial or venous blood within 1h after birth
#Encephalopathy was characterized by a Thompson score of >7 1h after birth or an abnormal aEEG on admission to a level III NICU