Background: Preterm infants with progressive post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) in the absence of associated parenchymal lesions may have a normal neurodevelopmental outcome. Objectives: To evaluate neurodevelopmental and cognitive outcomes among preterm infants with severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and PHVD requiring neurosurgical intervention. Methods: 32 preterm infants were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit with PHVD requiring neurosurgical intervention, and were seen in the follow-up clinic for standardized cognitive, behavioral and neurological assessments between 5 and 8 years of age. Only preterm infants with a gestational age (GA) of <30 weeks, as well as preterm and full-term infants with PHVD and full-term infants with perinatal asphyxia are seen in our follow-up clinic at this age. There were 23 infants with a GA of <30 weeks in this study population. For these 23, matched controls were available and compared with the IVH group. Results: The majority (59.4%) had no impairments. None of the children with grade III and 8 of the 15 children (53%) with grade IV hemorrhage developed cerebral palsy. More subtle motor problems assessed with the Movement-ABC score were seen in 39% (n = 9); the mean IQ of all children was 93.4, and 29% of the children had an IQ of <85 (–1 SD). Timing of intervention did not have a beneficial effect on outcome. With respect to cognition, no significant differences were found between the IVH and the control group. Conclusion: The majority of the children in our population had no impairments. Cerebral palsy was not seen in any of the infants with a grade III hemorrhage.

Keywords:
Hemorrhage, intraventricular, Ventricular dilatation, post-hemorrhagic, Neurodevelopmental outcome, Cognitive outcome
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel
2011
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.