[Early diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage in the newborn]

A routine ultrasonographic (US) examination is essential for monitoring intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very low-birth-weight newborn infants. The incidence of IVH was decreased by risk factor analysis using US. Subarachnoidal hemorrhage (SAH), subdural hemorrhage (SDH) and intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) occurred more in mature infants who had difficult deliveries. Final diagnosis was established by cranial computed tomography (CT) or careful US examinations. Symptoms and signs of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) were more non-specific than neurological. The possibility of ICH should always be considered and excluded by CT or US in the infants with nonspecific clinical manifestations.