Characteristics of the study population
| Measure | N* | Total |
| Maternal characteristics | ||
| Age (years) | 27 | 31.0 (4.9) |
| Race: White | 27 | 24 (88.9%) |
| University qualification | 26 | 13 (50.0%) |
| Pregnancy characteristics | 27 | |
| Primiparous | 17 (63.0%) | |
| Induction of labour | 3 (11.1%) | |
| Pregnancy complications† | 5 (14.8%) | |
| Intrapartum complications‡ | 23 (85.2%) | |
| Lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) | 11 (40.7%) | |
| Breech | 2 (7.4%) | |
| Pyrexia >38°C, n (%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Paternal characteristics | ||
| Age (years) | 26 | 39.5 (1.6) |
| Race: White | 25 | 21 (84.0%) |
| University qualification | 20 | 9 (45.0%) |
| Infant characteristics | 27 | |
| Sex (male) | 19 (70.4%) | |
| Gestation weeks (mean (SD)) | 39.5 (1.5) | |
| Birth weight g, mean (SD) | 3314 (468) | |
| Head circumference cm, mean (SD) | 34.8 (1.3) | |
| Transferred from LNU or SCBU for cooling | 17 (63.0%) | |
| Cord blood gas | ||
| pH, mean (SD) | 22 | 6.99 (0.16) |
| Base excess | 21 | −13.0 (6.0) |
| Apgar scores | 27 | |
| 1 min | 3 (1–5) | |
| 5 min | 5 (4–7) | |
| 10 min | 7 (4–8) | |
| Need for respiratory support >10 min | 27 | 22 (81.5%) |
| HIE grade | 27 | |
| I | 3 (11.1%) | |
| II | 15 (55.6%) | |
| III | 9 (33.3%) | |
| aEEG abnormality before TH | 27 | |
| Normal | 2 (7.4%) | |
| Moderately abnormal | 21 (77.8%) | |
| Severely abnormal | 4 (14.8%) | |
| Cardiac compressions | 7 (25.9%) | |
| Resuscitation drugs | 1 (3.7%) | |
| Age active cooling commenced (hours) | 27 | 2.8 (1.3, 3.8) |
| Temperature at start of active cooling (°C) | 26 | 34.8 (1.18) |
| Age when reached (hours) 33.5°C | 27 | 5.3 (4.2) |
Values are n (%), mean (SD) or median (IQR) as appropriate.
*N denotes number of subjects for whom data were available.
†Pre-eclampsia, HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and a low platelet count) syndrome, pregnancy-induced hypertension, antepartum bleed, diabetes, Bell’s palsy and polyhydramnios.
‡Cord prolapse, uterine rupture, shoulder dystocia, placental abruption, fetal decelerations, fetal bradycardia, prolonged rupture of membranes, reduced fetal movements, meconium-stained liquor.
aEEG, amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram; HIE, hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy; LNU, local neonatal unit; SCBU, special care baby unit; TH, therapeutic hypothermia.