Assessment of Risk Factors of Intraventricular Hemorrhage Among Preterm Neonates: A Tertiary Care NICU Study

Poornima Prakash Kulkarni, Kathagaram Vijayasree, Kavita Shantmallappa Konded, Vijay Keshavarao Kulkarni

Abstract

Aim: To determine the risk factors of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) among preterm very low-birth-weight and extremely low-birth-weight neonates

Materials and Methods: This case–control study included 164 preterm neonates. Cranial ultrasound was done for all the neonates. The neonates who had IVH were considered as cases, and the neonates who did not have IVH were considered as controls. The risk factors were compared between the 2 groups.

Results: Of the 164 preterm neonates, 50 neonates had IVH. Of these 50 neonates, 35 were male and 15 were female neonates. Among the 164 neonates, 60 neonates were born out of multiple pregnancy, of which, 36 neonates had IVH. Of the 164 preterm neonates, 48 neonates required resuscitation at birth, of which 32 had IVH. Of the 83 neonates whose mothers received antenatal steroids, 16 neonates developed IVH. Of the 81 neonates whose mothers did not receive antenatal steroids, 34 neonates developed IVH. Low gestational age and neonatal birth weight increased the risk of IVH.

Conclusion: Resuscitation at birth, low gestational age, low birth weight, born out of multiple pregnancy, and mothers who did not receive antenatal steroids are the risk factors that contribute to the high incidence of IVH. Factors such as lower segment cesarean section and receiving a full course of antenatal steroids were found to be protective.