SUBEPENDYMAL GERMINAL MATRIX HEMORRHAGE (SEH) IN TERM NEONATES

Abstract

Cerebral ultrasonography was done within 72 hours of birth on 505 newborns of ≥ 37 weeks gestation admitted during an 8 week period to the normal newborn nursery. Abnormalities were detected in 23 babies (4.6%). Bilateral SEH occurred in 14 (2.8%) and unilateral SEH in 6 (1.2%). Agenesis of the corpus callosum was detected in 2 (0.4%) and mild ventricular dilatation in 1 (0.2%). None of the 20 babies with SEH had intraventricular hemorrhage. When compared to babies with no SEH, those with SEH were of significantly lower gestational age and birth weight. The difference in weight was attributable to lower birth weights in females with SEH compared to females without SEH. Significantly more babies with SEH were small for gestational age, were delivered vaginally, and were black. No differences existed between babies with and without SEH in regard to gender, obstetrical presentation, use of forceps, birth trauma, Apgar scores, asphyxia, maternal age and parity, and clinical problems. Although SEH is primarily a problem of the premature baby, this study indicates that SEH is relatively common (4.0%) in the term newborn and may be clinically silent. In this study babies at greatest risk for SEH were black, small for gestational age, and vaginally delivered.