[Prevention of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy with high-dose, early phenobarbital therapy].

Objective: To assess usefulness of high-dose early phenobarbital therapy for prevention of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) secondary to perinatal asphyxia (PNA).

Material And Methods: By means of a randomized clinical trial, asphyxiated full-term or post-term newborn infants were divided in two groups: Group A was the experimental group, while group B was the control group. Infants in group A received phenobarbital, 40 mg/kg, during the first 60 min after birth.