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.