Neonatal Encephalopathy and Cerebral Palsy: Defining the Pathogenesis & Pathophysiology : A Report

This monograph explores the mechanisms and timing of possible etiologic events that contribute to fetal and neonatal neurologic injury. The report presents evidence that most cases of cerebral palsy are a result of multifactorial and unpreventable causes that occur during fetal development or in the newborn after delivery, and not a result of an isolated intrapartum hypoxic event. The report contains a set of criteria that may be used to define (or rule out) an acute intrapartum hypoxic event sufficient to cause or suggest cerebral palsy.