Evaluation of short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in the premature patients with periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage

Abstract

Despite the significant advancements in perinatal care, it is not clear whether or not the neurodevelopmental outcome in children with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) has improved in parallel with the declining incidence of periventricular-IVH. In this study, we aimed to assess the periventricular-IVH-induced mortality and morbidity rates, as well as the short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in premature infants. Two hundred and sixty five patients who were admitted between September 2005 and May 2006 were investigated for periventricular-IVH. Sixty-six patients with periventricular-IVH were compared with 66 premature infants who were not associated with hemorrhage. Of the periventricular-IVH diagnosed premature infants, 59% were born at or before week 32, 61% had a body weight below 1500 g, and 24.9% had hemorrhage. In cases with periventricular-IVH, the rates of premature retinopathy and periventricular leukomalacia were significantly high (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant relation between periventricular-IVH and mortality (P > 0.05) while the relation between periventricular-IVH and neuromotor developmental retardation was significant (P < 0.05). The outcome was poorer as the grade of bleeding increased (P < 0.05). As a conclusion, regardless of risk factors, periventricular-IVH is an important early indicator of neurodevelopmental retardation, and those cases having such condition should be always assessed with a neurodevelopmental evaluation. The detection of neurodevelopmental retardation in short term with appropriate educational strategy could be beneficial for long-term outcome.

Keywords

Periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage - premature - complications - neurodevelopmental outcomes