Neonatal Neuro Protective Program

The Body Cooling Program

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a medical term for brain damage caused by lack of oxygen and lack of blood flow to the brain. It occurs most frequently during or just before birth. It is a life threatening condition that can cause serious and/or permanent brain damage to infants.

The only clinical treatment currently available that may improve the long term outcomes for these infants is therapeutic hypothermia. Sunrise Children’s Hospital offers therapeutic hypothermia, also known as body cooling, which is a medical treatment that lowers a patient’s body temperature to 33.5 degrees Celsius for approximately 72 hours. It is crucial that the treatment be administered within six hours of birth. Your obstetrician will work with the neonatologists at Sunrise Children’s Hospital to arrange treatment as soon as possible.

PHYSICIANS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS – Infants must meet certain criteria for treatment. If you have questions about the Body Cooling Program or think you have an infant that may qualify for treatment, please call the Sunrise Children’s Hospital Transport Team at 1-800-KID-SICK (543-7425). Neonatologists are available by phone for consultation.