OUTCOME OF RESUSCITATION FOLLOWING UNEXPECTED APPARENT STILLBIRTH

There are few data to inform a decision to resuscitate babies who are unexpectedly stillborn. The outcome for 42 successfully resuscitated s tillborn children, of whom 62% survived to be discharged home, is repo rted. Of the survivors, a poor outcome with severe disability was foun d in 23% (including one postneonatal death), equivocal outcome was fou nd in 15% (two mild hypertonia; two with mild hemiplegia and no associ ated other disability) and 62% were free of any impairment at follow u p 20 months to 8 years later. In 39 (93%) fetal problems had been iden tified and the resuscitation team was present at delivery. Poor outcom e was associated with late return of heart beat, delayed respirations, neonatal acidaemia and early onset of seizures. Of the unexpected app arent still-births successfully resuscitated, 52% died or survived sev erely disabled, 10% had an equivocal outcome, but 36% survived apparen tly intact. Therefore, vigorous resuscitation is clearly indicated in these circumstances.