State Variable Model and Analysis of Birth Asphyxia

In India, a significant percentage of high risk births, which go upto 20%, are affected by perinatal asphyxia. Birth asphyxia is associated with deficient mental and physical development, severity of which leads to mortality. It is very important that a comprehensive quantitative study of the phenomenon be undertaken and a risk index formulated. Preventive measures can then be fciken to avert the emergent situation. In the present paper ncuronal sequelae to neonatal asphyxia were identified and a compartmentai model was developed with each compartment representing a physiological parameter. Rate constants of the model were derived from literature and other experimental studies. To obtain online data on the parameters pO,, pCO?, pH, cerebral hlood flow, inlracrarial pressure and heart rate an experimental study was conducted on a monkey. Online intracranial pressure monitoring during asphyxia was done through an artificial fontancl opening. A risk index was thus formulated to determine the seventy of asphyxia to enable the pediatricians take corrective action.