INTRA-CRANICAL HEMORRHAGE IN THE TERM INFANT CONFIRMED BY COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (6) , 531-544
Abstract
In 8 full-term infants and 1 post-term infant diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) was clinically established on the 2nd-12th day of life and subsequently confirmed by computed tomography (CT). Birth asphyxia was present in 1 infant only. One patient died. Another developed progressing posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus requiring a shunt. On follow-up at 2 1/2-30 mo., psychomotor development was normal in 6 children, mildly delayed in 1 and markedly delayed in another. In both groups of patients ICH usually occurred within the 1st 7 days of life. CT findings were often identical. Mortality rate of preterm babies with ICH was 4.5 times higher than that of term babies, while in surviving patients incidence of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus was approximately the same. Repeated lumbar punctures were therapeutically successful in some preterm infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Use of this approach is recommended in term infants before placement of a shunt is considered. Etiologic factors and pathogenesis of ICH are discussed.

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