Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Modeling Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus of Prematurity in Rats
04:20

Modeling Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus of Prematurity in Rats

Published on: March 28, 2025

607

The Relationship Between Clinical Imaging and Neurobehavioral Assessment in Posthemorrhagic Ventricular Dilation of

Rebecca A Dorner1,2, Bruno P Soares2,3, Shenandoah Robinson2,4

  • 1Neonatology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States.

Frontiers in Physiology
|February 27, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and hydrocephalus in preterm infants are linked to neurodevelopmental issues. Neuroimaging and the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) show correlations between ventricle size, brain injury, and infant neurobehavioral deficits.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal neurology
  • Pediatric neurosurgery
  • Developmental neuroscience

Background:

  • Neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in preterm infants can lead to significant brain injury and neurodevelopmental impairments.
  • Neuroimaging techniques like head ultrasound (HUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are crucial for assessing cerebral injury and guiding interventions.
  • The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) offers a reliable method to evaluate motor and cognitive development in neonates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between neonatal neurobehavioral outcomes measured by the NNNS and imaging parameters of ventricular dilation and brain injury on HUS and MRI.
  • To determine if neuroimaging findings correlate with neurobehavioral assessments in preterm infants with IVH and hydrocephalus.

Main Methods:

  • Enrollment of preterm neonates diagnosed with IVH and ventricular dilatation, with or without posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus.
  • Performance of NNNS exams at approximately term-equivalent age.
  • Measurement of HUS indices and assessment of the posterior fossa via MRI at term; correlation analysis using Pearson's method.

Main Results:

  • Significant correlations were found between ventricle size, brain injury markers, and NNNS scores.
  • Higher ventricle/brain ratios and poorer NNNS habituation scores were observed in infants requiring neurosurgical intervention.
  • Ventricle size showed modest correlations with motor abnormalities (e.g., reflexes, tone) and cognitive scores (e.g., attention); periventricular hemorrhagic infarction correlated with poorer habituation.

Conclusions:

  • Neurosurgical intervention for posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in preterm infants is associated with greater ventriculomegaly and poorer NNNS outcomes.
  • HUS and MRI findings correlate with motor and cognitive deficits identified through neonatal neurobehavioral examinations.
  • The NNNS exam provides valuable supplementary information for assessing preterm infants with IVH-related ventricular dilation and hydrocephalus.

Keywords:
developmenthydrocephalusintraventricular hemorrhageneuroimagingprematurityventriculomegaly

More Related Videos

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

87.6K
Quantifying Intermembrane Distances with Serial Image Dilations07:45

Quantifying Intermembrane Distances with Serial Image Dilations

Published on: September 28, 2018

6.7K

Related Concept Videos

Relationship Formation02:12

Relationship Formation

What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
46.2K
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy01:30

Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by ventricular chamber dilation and contractile dysfunction.EtiologyVarious factors can cause DCM, including hypertension and heavy alcohol intake, which contribute to the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle. Viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, adenoviruses, and influenza, can lead to DCM by causing inflammation and damage to heart tissue. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including daunorubicin,...
549
Ending Relationships01:28

Ending Relationships

The dissolution of intimate relationships presents complex emotional and psychological challenges, particularly when emotional bonds are strong, the relationship is long-standing, and perceived alternatives are limited. This distress often intensifies in romantic breakups, where the initiator may experience greater turmoil than the rejected partner. Contributing factors include residual attachment, guilt over causing pain, and uncertainty about how to manage the situation. The stress is further...
182
Angina III: Clinical Manifestations and Assessment01:29

Angina III: Clinical Manifestations and Assessment

Angina manifests as chest pain, tightness, or squeezing discomfort typically located behind the breastbone. It can radiate to the neck, jaw, shoulders, and inner aspects of the upper arms, most commonly the left arm. Patients may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, profuse sweating, dizziness, indigestion, heartburn, palpitations, anxiety, and vomiting as accompanying symptoms. This pain often lasts a few minutes and is triggered by physical exertion, emotional stress, heavy meals, or cold...
229
Relationship Growth01:27

Relationship Growth

Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
211
Social Relationships and Well-Being01:30

Social Relationships and Well-Being

The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
287