Ultrasonically detectable cerebellar haemorrhage in preterm infants.
Affiliation
Department of Neonatology, The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. lmccarthy@nmh.ieIssue Date
2011-07MeSH
Birth WeightCase-Control Studies
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Infant, Premature, Diseases
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Male
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Sex Factors
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Ultrasonically detectable cerebellar haemorrhage in preterm infants. 2011, 96 (4):F281-5 Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.Journal
Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal editionDOI
10.1136/adc.2010.183889PubMed ID
21252199Abstract
To determine the frequency and pattern of cerebellar haemorrhage (CBH) on routine cranial ultrasound (cUS) imaging in infants of ≤32 weeks gestation, and to investigate how extremely preterm infants with CBH differ from those with severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH).672 infants of ≤32 weeks gestation were prospectively examined for CBH on serial cUS imaging. In a separate case--control analysis, the clinical features, ultrasound findings and outcome of preterm infants with CBH were compared to those of infants with isolated severe IVH (grade III-IV).
Nine cases of CBH were identified among 53 infants with severe IVH. The incidence of CBH in infants of ≤32 weeks gestation was 1.3%. Five infants had bilateral CBH involving both hemispheres, three had unilateral left sided CBH and one had a right hemispheric lesion. Infants with CBH were male, significantly more preterm (24.4 vs 27.0 weeks) and of lower birth weight (692 g vs 979 g). Vaginal births predominated in the CBH group (89% vs 50%). The median time to identification of haemorrhage for both groups was 3 days. Mortality in the CBH group was 100% (9/9) compared to 43% (19/44) in the severe IVH group.
Extensive CBH in preterm infants is rare and devastating. It appears to be confined to very preterm, extremely low birthweight infants and may have a male predominance. The co-existence of severe IVH and extensive CBH on routine cot-side cUS in the early neonatal period is an ominous finding.
Language
enISSN
1468-2052Ethical Approval
N/Aae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1136/adc.2010.183889