Frequency of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in term neonates delivered with fetal distress.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in term neonates delivered with fetal distress. Study Design: Descriptive, Cross-sectional study. Setting: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) attached with Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Sir Sadiq Abbasi Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Period: August 2021 to February 2022. Material & Methods: A total of 300 term neonates with fetal distress were included. All the neonates who had pallor and or bulging anterior fontenelle were investigated with the help of CT scan brain (plain) and presence or absence of ICH was noted. Results: In a total of 300 neonates, 172 (57.3%) were male. The mean gestational age was 38.42 ± 1.53 weeks. The mean birth weight was 3.12 ± 0.89 kg. Asphyxia neonatorum was noted in 94 (31.3%) neonates. Birth trauma was reported among 98 (32.7%) neonates. The frequency of ICH in term neonates delivered with fetal distress was noted in 73 (24.3%) neonates. Conclusion: The frequency of intracranial hemorrhage in term neonates delivered with fetal distress is quite high.