Perspectives on perinatal asphyxia: pathophysiology, presentation, and prognosis.

Perinatal asphyxia is a common and potentially serious problem in the management of labor and delivery. Severe perinatal asphyxia can cause significant short- and long-term sequelae. While the pathophysiology and sequelae of perinatal asphyxia in animals is understood fairly well, asphyxiation cannot be reliably prevented or effectively treated once it occurs in the newborn human. However, with a better understanding of what perinatal asphyxia is and its expected clinical symptoms and outcomes, perinatal nurses can better care for asphyxiated infants.