Neonatal organ system injury in acute birth asphyxia sufficient to result in neonatal encephalopathy.

Objective: To identify the proportion of major organ system injury in cases of acute intrapartum asphyxia that result in neonatal encephalopathy.

Methods: A prospectively maintained database was cross-referenced using medical record coding to identify diagnoses of acute intrapartum asphyxia, acute birth asphyxia, or neonatal encephalopathy over a 6-year period. An acute intrapartum asphyxial antecedent was validated with emphasis on excluding long-standing or chronic conditions where injury likely occurred before presentation.