Doctors ‘freeze’ baby at University College London Hospital to save his life
Dr Giles Kendall, consultant neonateologist at UCLH, helped save the life of a baby with 'baby cooling'
Rachael Getzels
Monday, February 25, 2013
12:42 PM
A pioneering treatment which involves lowering a baby’s body temperature has saved the life of an infant at University College London Hospital (UCLH).
The child was born with a condition that made his heart beat too quickly.
The “baby cooling” technique has been used to help babies survive who have been deprived of oxygen during birth and have a brain injury.
It involves wrapping the infant in a blanket of cold gel and lowering his or her temperature until it is almost four degrees below normal levels. This process slows down the organs and can prevent damage.
In May 2010 the treatment was endorsed by the NHS.
Giles Kendall, consultant in neo-natal medicine at UCLH, said: “We’ve been cooling for quite a while. Initially we did it as part of research, but now it’s standard care for babies who have been starved of oxygen.
“A lot of babies who have abnormal heart rhythms are amenable to medicine, but in the case of this baby, he hadn’t responded and he had also received some electric shocks.
“We did this treatment in conjunction with normal medicine.
“It was the first time we’ve used cooling outside of babies who have been starved of oxygen at birth.”
Most Read News
Giant rat discovered under Highgate dishwasher as bins overflow onto streets
A giant rat is not something you generally expect to find beneath your dishwasher.
Local advertisers
More news
- Camden Town shop buys ukuleles from The Apprentice contestants out of pity
- Gefiltefest Jewish food festival arrives at the London Jewish Cultural Centre
- Land train to appear at Highgate’s Fair in the Square
- Figures reveal cost of Olympic Torch Relay to Camden, Haringey and Barnet
- Community enjoy re-launch of Thanet community centre in Kentish Town
- Manager allowed to continue at Golders Green bar The Grove after violent attack
- Spurs youngster withdraws from England squad as betting charge hangs over him
- Sexiest woman in the world spotted on Hampstead Heath
- Dead man found in West Hampstead street named
- Camden, Barnet and Haringey elect new mayors for the year ahead
- West Hampstead community centre celebrates 30th birthday
- Kentish Town woman lands Chelsea Flower Show spot fresh from college
- Outgoing University College School headteacher will miss pupils when he retires
- Tasers could spark ‘arms race’ between police and criminals in Camden
- Getting Tasered in the US ‘most painful experience of my life’ says Metropolitan Police sergeant
- Crackdown on mobile phone theft epidemic brings 10 arrests in Camden
- Woolwich killing: Police to patrol mosques in Camden and Barnet to ‘reassure community’ after barbaric killing
- Hampstead developers criticised for digging basement extensions on the cheap
-
Use our Wedding site to help you plan your big day! - At WeddingSite we know how much you have to organise for your wedding day, that's why we have designed a set of FREE, simple-to-use tools to make the planning process easy & hassle-free. FIND OUT MORE
-
Find a date using our online dating and friend finder - You can meet new friends, find romance or simply meet up online with people sharing similar interests and hobbies. FIND OUT MORE
-
Find a local business using our online directory search - Need a plumber? Or a florist? Or anything else? Search our business directory to find Hampstead businesses in just a few seconds. FIND OUT MORE
-
Family notices from the Ham&High, with readers' tributes - In memoriam, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, best wishes & special days. FIND OUT MORE
Around the Web See all
London Zoo residents expect summer even if no one else does
Whisper it, but summer could be on its way - at least according to penguins at London Zoo.
0 comments