Background: Therapeutic hypothermia is one of the main effective ways to
support
neuroprotection
in
neonates
with
hypoxic-ischemic
encephalopathy. Aim: this study evaluated the effect of therapeutic hypothermia
on feeding tolerance and cerebral oxygen metabolism for neonates with hypoxic
ischemia encephalopathy. Design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized for
conducting the current study (one group pre-post-test). Setting: This study was
carried out in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Benha University Hospital which
affiliated to the Ministry of Higher Education and Benha Specialized Pediatric
Hospital which affiliated to the Ministry of Health and Population Specialized
Medical Centers. Subject: A purposive sample of 45 neonates with hypoxic
ischemia encephalopathy. Data collection Tools: The following five tools were
utilized for data collection; Tool I: A Neonate’s Medical data sheet: Tool II:
Feeding Pattern of Neonates Assessment Sheet: Tool III: Neonates'
Gastrointestinal Post Feeding Tolerance Assessment Sheet. Tool IV: Cerebral
metabolic rate of oxygen consumption measurements. Tool V: Neonatal
encephalopathy score. Results: The result of the present study revealed that there
was a positive correlation and highly statistical significance between total
neonatal body temperature and feeding tolerance and cerebral oxygen metabolism
at pre and post therapeutic hypothermia intervention phases Conclusion: The
study concluded that Therapeutic Hypothermia had highly statistical significance
on feeding tolerance and cerebral oxygen metabolism for Neonates with Hypoxic
Ischemia Encephalopathy. Recommendation: The therapeutic hypothermia
study should be replicated on a larger random sample in different Neonatal
Intensive Care Units, for the generalization of the obtained results.