Adrenal hemorrhage in the newborn

Massive adrenal hemorrhage of the newborn is a rare phenomenon. The pathogenesis is still unclear; massive hemorrhage has been observed in newborns after difficult and prolonged deliveries or placental bleeding, and in small prematures with intrapartum anoxia. The authors report a newborn operated on the fifth day of life after its general condition had deteriorated progressively. A retroperitoneal hematoma had formed subsequent to rupture of one suprarenal gland. After surgical removal of the hematoma, the child recovered fully.