The infant
The infant was born with cyanotic skin; she was not crying and showed hypotonia, poor responsiveness, a heart rate of 80 beats/minute, and a birth weight of 1600 g. Apgar scores of 3, 7, and 8 at 1, 5, and 10 min, respectively, were recorded. Resuscitation treatments for neonatal asphyxia were administered including respiratory tract cleaning, physical stimulation, and endotracheal intubation. Blood was collected for bacterial culture. A chest radiograph showed an excessive decrease in pulmonary dialysis (Figure 1). Arterial blood gas analysis showed a pH of 7.10. Her blood count showed a white blood cell count of 11.13×109/L. (Table 1). Because the infant could not establish regular spontaneous breathing, she was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after tracheal intubation for further treatment. In the NICU, an invasive ventilator was used to assist breathing. Blood gas analysis was performed every 4 hours. Flomoxef was administered as antimicrobial therapy, the intravenous infusion was used to correct hypoglycemia, and symptomatic and supportive treatments were used to protect the heart and brain.
Twenty-four hours after birth, the infant gradually developed body edema, pale skin with patterns, weak bowel sounds, dark green stools, and a positive fecal occult blood test. The infant’s condition improved and the results of the blood gas analysis became normal (Table 1). Continued symptomatic supportive therapy along with routine stool tests and abdominal ultrasound.