Progressive ventriculomegaly following minor intracranial hemorrhage in premature infants.

Abstract

Progressive hydrocephalus following subependymal-intraventricular hemorrhages (SEH-IVH) in premature infants has been noted after moderate to severe degrees of hemorrhage. The ventricular dilatation often has been noted to resolve spontaneously, or not continue to progress after four weeks of age. 11 premature infants with moderate to marked degrees of ventricular enlargement following minor degrees of SEH-IVH have been identified over an 18-month period, and in six of these infants the dilatation continued to progress after one month of age. This sequence of events has not been well documented, and it emphasizes the need to closely follow all infants who have sustained any degree of intracranial hemorrhage. The authors recommend routine real-time ultrasound brain-scans at one month of age for all infants with SEH-IVH, and continued close observation with serial head-measurements of those with enlarged ventricular systems at that time.