Neuropediatrics 2018; 49(04): 238-245
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1641568
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Bedside Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Needle Aspiration of Intra- and Extra-Axial Intracranial Hemorrhage in Neonates

Mehmet N. Cizmeci
1   Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2   Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Liesbeth Thewissen
3   Department of Neonatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
,
Alexandra Zecic
4   Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
,
Peter A. Woerdeman
5   Division of Neuroscience, Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Bart de Boer
5   Division of Neuroscience, Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Edward Baert
4   Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
,
Paul Govaert
6   Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
7   Section of Neonatology, Middelheim Ziekenhuis-ZNA, Antwerp, Belgium
,
Jeroen Dudink
1   Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2   Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Floris Groenendaal
1   Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2   Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Maarten Lequin
8   Department Pediatric Radiology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Linda S. de Vries
1   Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2   Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

18 January 2018

24 February 2018

Publication Date:
24 April 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Intracranial hemorrhage is an important cause of brain injury in the neonatal population and bedside percutaneous needle aspiration has emerged as an alternative due to the major risks that can be caused by standard neurosurgical decompression. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of this minimally invasive bedside technique and conducted a retrospective analysis of all newborn infants with a large extra-axial hemorrhage associated with a parenchymal hemorrhage causing a midline shift, managed at three academic centers over a 15-year period. Collected data included clinical history, laboratory results, review of all imaging studies performed, and neurodevelopmental follow-up. Eight infants (3 preterm and 5 full-term) presented on day 1 to 2 with seizures (n = 6) and apneas (n = 5), signs of increased intracranial pressure (n = 4), and coning (n = 1). Risk factors were present in six. Cranial ultrasound and computed tomography showed a midline shift in all; two infants showed status epilepticus on amplitude-integrated electroencephalography with complete resolution after the procedure. Between 7 and 34 mL could be aspirated associated with a decrease in the midline shift as seen by ultrasonography performed during the puncture. No complications were seen related to the procedure and none of the infants required further acute neurosurgical intervention. On follow-up, three had mild sequelae, including motor coordination problems (n = 1) and hemianopia (n = 2); none developed cerebral palsy or postneonatal epilepsy. Neonates, presenting with severe symptoms, can be managed successfully using ultrasound-guided needle aspiration and this minimally invasive bedside method should be kept in mind before performing neurosurgical decompression.