Evolution of the Thompson score during the first 6 h in infants with perinatal asphyxia

AimThis study aimed to determine the evolution of the Thompson score, which provides composite grading of encephalopathy signs, during the first 6h of birth in neonates with perinatal asphyxia. MethodsTwenty term infants with perinatal asphyxia were prospectively studied from the University Hospital of Kinshasa during a 12-month period. The Thompson score was performed after 1h, then hourly until 6h of birth. ResultsFourteen infants had a Thompson score 7 and six had a score <7 after 1h of birth. The Thompson score remained higher than 7 after 3h in nine infants (64.3%) and in four infants (25.6%) after 6h. After 3h of birth, four infants moved from a score 7 to a score below 7. After 6h, five infants had a score below 7. Seventy per cent of patients had a Thompson score higher than 7 after 1h, 45% after 3h and 20% after 6h. ConclusionThe Thompson score changes over the time during the first 6h of birth, and this should be taken into account when it is being used as an entry criterion for cooling.