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Intracranial Pressure Monitoring In Nontraumatic Intraventricular Hemorrhage Rodent Model
Published on: February 8, 2022
The Frequency of Intraventricular Hemorrhage and its Risk Factors
Mohsen Haghshenas-Mojaveri1,2, Forough Alikabranya Omran3, Soraya Khafri4
1Non-Communicable Pediatric Disease Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, I.R. Iran.
Insights
Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is common in premature infants, but severe forms are rare. Risk factors include low birth weight and prematurity, while antenatal corticosteroids may reduce IVH risk.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Pediatric Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is the most common stroke in premature infants, leading to potential long-term neurological deficits.
- Understanding the incidence and risk factors for IVH is crucial for improving outcomes in high-risk neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of IVH in premature infants within a specific clinical setting.
- To identify significant risk factors associated with the occurrence of IVH in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit.
- Premature infants (<34 weeks gestation, <1500g birth weight) without major congenital anomalies were included.
- Brain ultrasounds were performed within the first week of life, with comparative analysis using chi-square and logistic regression.
Main Results:
- The study included 205 premature infants, with 52.1% experiencing IVH.
- Most IVH cases were mild (grade I and II, 97.3%), with severe forms (grade III and IV) being rare (2.7%).
- Significant risk factors included gestational age <28 weeks, birth weight <1000g, vaginal delivery, asphyxia, mechanical ventilation, cord acidosis, dopamine infusion, and maternal fever/chorioamnionitis. Antenatal corticosteroids showed a protective effect (OR=10.63).
Conclusions:
- IVH is highly prevalent in low-birth-weight infants (<1500g), but severe grades are infrequent.
- High-risk pregnancies and specific neonatal factors significantly correlate with increased IVH risk.
- Antenatal corticosteroid use appears to be a protective factor against IVH.
Background:
Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (is the most prevalent type of cerebrovascular accident in premature infants, which can result in lasting neurological complications. The aim of this study was to ascertain the frequency of IVH and its associated risk factors within our particular context.
Materials And Methods:
This cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit of a maternal and neonatal hospital from September 2018 to August 2019. Premature infants under 34 weeks of age and with birth weight < 1500 grams who did not have significant congenital anomalies participated in the study. A brain ultrasound was performed by a sonologist during the first week. The infants were subsequently categorized into two groups: those with and without IVH. A comparative analysis was conducted using the chi-square test and logistic regression. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
Of the 205 premature infants who completed the study, IVH was reported in 107 cases (52.1%), of which 97.3% of ventricular hemorrhages were grade I and II and 2.7% accounted for severe bleeding (grade III and IV). Gestational age less than 28 weeks, weight less than 1000 g, vaginal delivery, asphyxia and resuscitation, history of intubation and mechanical ventilation, cord blood acidity, dopamine infusion, and history of fever and chorioamnionitis in the mother have been found to be significantly associated with increased risk of IVH (p<0.001). Antenatal corticosteroids decreased the risk (OR=10.63).
Conclusion:
In this study, IVH has been found to be common in infants under 1500 g of weight, but the severe form was low in frequency and was observed significantly in high-risk pregnancies.
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