Tunbridge Wells Hospital study aims to improve outcomes for babies with brain injuries at birth

Shortly after baby Eliza’s birth n October last year, her parents Casey and Ryan were told she may have mild hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) after staff noticed rapid breathing and a delay in Eliza’s reflexes.

Mild HIE is a type of brain injury that occurs when a baby experiences lack of oxygen at birth and affects around 0.5 to one in every 1,000 newborns. Although traditionally considered low risk, recent research shows many affected infants face lasting cognitive and neurological challenges, and around 20% may develop lifelong disability such as cerebral palsy.

Dr Kudzai Mugweni, Consultant Paediatrician at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, quickly made the new parents aware of the COMET (Cooling in Mild Encephalopathy Trial) study.

Run by doctors and researchers from Imperial College London and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the COMET study is examining if cooling therapy can reduce brain injury in babies who have experienced HIE.

The study involves using a special cooling blanket or mattress which can reduce brain injury, assessing how well it can help to prevent later disability. This carefully lowers a baby’s temperature from the normal temperature of 37ºC to a temperature of 33.5ºC for the first three days after birth.

As a Level 2 unit, Tunbridge Wells Neonatal Unit is said to be the first of its kind to recruit to the COMET study.

“We made the decision to go ahead with the trial very quickly. Dr Mugweni explained everything clearly in a way we could understand, so we could carefully think about the possible benefits and risks. After considering everything, we decided it was definitely worth trying,” say Eliza’s parents.

Eliza was quickly transferred from the NICU at Tunbridge Wells Hospital to the Level 3 NICU at Medway Maritime Hospital to continue her cooling treatment.

“It was difficult spending time away from Eliza in her first few days of life, but we knew she was being taken care of and the doctors could see she was responding well,” says Casey.

Eliza is now doing well, achieving all her developmental milestones, and is having regular physiotherapy and occupational therapy monitoring. She will have check-ups at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, before being invited to Imperial College London to check on her development.

Dr Mugweni comments: “For too long, a mild HIE diagnosis was seen as low risk, often resulting in a wait and see approach. By leading Imperial’s COMET study at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, we are helping to transform that mindset – shifting care from passive observation to proactive protection, so every baby we treat has the brightest, healthiest future possible.”

MTW’s Paediatric Research team works with families of the trust’s youngest patients to explore opportunities to participate in research studies.

Further information here.