Cooling blankets tested to save newborn brains after oxygen loss

NCT ID NCT01192776

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested four different cooling treatments for newborns who suffered brain injury from lack of oxygen at birth. The treatments varied in how low the body temperature was lowered (33.5°C or 32.0°C) and how long cooling lasted (72 or 120 hours). The goal was to see which approach best reduced death or disability by 18-22 months of age. The trial enrolled 364 infants but was terminated early, so findings are limited.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Whole-body cooling (a procedure using a cooling blanket to lower body temperature)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could identify the best cooling method (temperature and duration) to reduce death or long-term disability in newborns with brain injury from oxygen deprivation.

What could go wrong

The trial was terminated early, so results may be incomplete. Cooling treatments can have side effects like heart rhythm problems or blood clotting issues, and the optimal approach remains uncertain.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

brain hypoxia - ischemia Hypothermia Hypoxia, Brain perinatal asphyxia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Brown University, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

    Providence, Rhode Island, 02905, United States

  • Case Western Reserve University, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States

  • Children's Mercy Hospital

    Kansas City, Missouri, 64108, United States

  • Cincinnati Children's Medical Center

    Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267, United States

  • Duke University

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

  • Emory University

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30303, United States

  • Indiana University

    Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States

  • RTI International

    Durham, North Carolina, 27705, United States

  • Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital

    Columbus, Ohio, 43205, United States

  • Stanford University

    Palo Alto, California, 94304, United States

  • Univeristy of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States

  • University of California - Los Angeles

    Los Angeles, California, 90025, United States

  • University of Iowa

    Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States

  • University of New Mexico

    Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, United States

  • University of Rochester

    Rochester, New York, 14642, United States

  • University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

    Dallas, Texas, 75235, United States

  • Wayne State University

    Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States