Hypothermia therapy
Hypothermia therapy means that the baby's body temperature is lowered from 37°C, normal body temperature, to about 33.5°C.
The therapy is carried out with the aid of a machine (CritiCool) and a garment which is wrapped around the baby's body and through which temperate water circulates.The temperature of the water is determined by the baby's body temperature and during the treatment a rectal thermometer is placed in the baby's bottom in order to carefully monitor the baby's body temperature.
When the body temperature is lowered, the metabolism decreases and there is a decrease in both the inflammatory response and the production of free radicals.
The hypothermia therapy lasts for 72 hours (3 days) after which the baby's body temperature is slowly raised to a normal level.