Intracranial hemorrhage in the term newborn
G. M. Fenichel, D. L. Webster and W. K. Wong
Over a five-year period we identified 22 term newborns with intracranial
hemorrhage by computed tomography in an intensive care unit for newborns.
Primary subarachnoid hemorrhage (diffuse or focal) was the most common type
of hemorrhage. Diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage was caused either by
traumatic delivery or severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and caused
seizures on the first day. Focal subarachnoid hemorrhage was associated
with cerebral infarction. Intraventricular hemorrhage was always
accompanied by bloody CSF. Somewhat more than half the newborns with
intraventricular hemorrhage had a history of traumatic delivery. In the
remainder there were no associated risk factors for the hemorrhage.
Hemorrhage into the cerebral hemispheres occurred without any identifiable
risk factors. Hemorrhage into the cerebellum was associated with traumatic
delivery.
