KUMJ | VOL. 24 | NO. 1 | ISSUE 94 | JANUARY - MARCH, 2026

Organ Dysfunction in Neonates with Perinatal Asphyxia in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Nepal
Pathak OK, Poudel P, Sharma Y, Khanal S, Yadav DN, Das PK, Koirala P

Abstract:
Background Perinatal asphyxia is one of the commonest causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Multiple organ dysfunction is an important complication. The adaptive mechanisms triggered are overwhelmed in prolonged or severe asphyxia leading to dysfunction of multiple vital organs. Objective To find the prevalence of organ dysfunction among neonates admitted with perinatal asphyxia in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Bharatpur Hospital. Method We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional study in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital from January to December 2023 after obtaining ethical approval from Institutional Review Committee. Neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with asphyxia were enrolled in the study. The basic information regarding period of gestation, sex, Apgar score, birth weight and birth events were collected. Neonates were investigated and managed as per Neonatal Intensive Care Unit protocol. Enrolled neonates were assessed for central nervous system, renal, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, metabolic and hematologic dysfunction, the number of systems involved and the immediate outcomes. Result All 108 enrolled neonates had at least one organ dysfunction. Cardiovascular dysfunction (83.33%) was the most common followed by respiratory dysfunction (79.62%). The Central nervous system, hematologic, renal, gastrointestinal and metabolic dysfunction were seen in 28.70%, 20.37%, 8.33%, 8.33% and 6.48% of neonates respectively. Multiorgan dysfunction was found in 85.19% of neonates. Among the enrolled neonates, 93.52% were discharged, 4.63% left against medical advice while 1.85% died during hospital stay. Conclusion Organ dysfunction is seen in all neonates with asphyxia commonly involving cardiovascular and respiratory system. Multiorgan dysfunction is a frequent complication of perinatal asphyxia.
Keyword : Asphyxia, Neonates, Organ dysfunction