Risk factors for germinal matrix haemorrhage-intraventricular haemorrhage in very low birth weight infants

Abstract

Germinal matrix haemorrhage-intraventricular haemorrhage (GMH-IVH) mainly occurs in preterm neonates and is an important cause of brain injury in them.In this retrospective cross-sectional study from march 2017 to march 2018 in our teaching hospitals, we investigated 250 newborns whom were admitted to NICU with birth weight under 1500 grams with ultrasonographic study for presence and grade if GMH-IVH in their first week of life. Risk factors for GMH-IVH were collected from their records and results been analysed with SPSS software. From 250 neonates who had inclusion criteria of the study, 22 cases had GMH-IVH in ultrasonographic evaluation. 37.6% of all cases and 31.8% of newborns with GMH-IVH had 5-minute APGAR score less than six. 91 cases (39.9%) of control group and 15 cases (68.1%) of GMH-IVH group need resuscitation at birth. From 250 cases 54 (21.6%) died that 14 cases (63.6%) had GMH-IVH. Our study shows significant differences for birth weight, 5 minute APGAR score and the need for resuscitation at birth as risk factors for development of GMH-IVH in very low birth weight neonates, but we do not find significant difference group in terms of gestational age, gender, route of delivery, fetal presentation, maternal parity, CBC parameters, sepsis, RDS, endotracheal tube suctioning and multiple pregnancy for them. In our study protective value for antenatal steroid therapy depends on the completion of the course of treatment for mothers.

Keywords

• Intraventricular Hemorrhage
• Risk Factors
• Very Low Birth Weight