Diagnostic clues in spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in babies

  • Julius July
  • Eka Julianta Wahjoepramono
  • Beny Atmadja Wirjomartani
Keywords: spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage (SIH), decreased level of conscious, seizure, subdural hematoma

Abstract

Background There has been increasing number of babies detected
with SIH. In regard to find diagnostic clues for the first-rate babies
who really needs CT scan and referral, simple observation to look
at certain clinical and laboratory findings is needed.
Objective To identify diagnostic clues associated with spontaneous
intracranial hemorrhage (SIH) in babies.
Methods Retrospective observation was carried out among ba-
bies with SIH within the last two and a half years. Patients were
excluded if there was an obvious cause of SIH such as trauma or
any underlying disease such as hemophilia. Variables that were
observed were patient's age, seizure, decreased level of conscious-
ness, tensed fontanel, neurological deficits, vomitting, fever
(T > 3 7 .SOC), anemia, jaundice, PT and aPTT. All data were
descriptively evaluated.
Results There were 53 babies with SIH (31 baby boys, 22 baby
girls), forty eight of which (91%) were less than 3 months old.
Of those, 50 patients (94%) had seizure as the leading clinical
presentation, 44 patients (83%) had decreased level of conscious-
ness, and 39 patients (74%) had tensed fontanel. PT and aPTT
were prolonged in 39 (74%) cases. The most common lesion was
subdural hematoma (38 cases/72%). Forty-three babies (81 o/o)
required neurosurgical intervention. Overall mortality rate was
22%.
Conclusion Babies with seizure, decreased level of consciousness,
tensed fontanel, and prolonged PT and aPTT should be considered
to harbor SIH. They need a CT scan and referral, particularly
those less than three months old. The prognosis is unfavorable,
thus early recognition and treatment is needed

Author Biographies

Julius July
Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, Pelita Harapan
University, Siloam Lippo Karawaci Hospital, Tangerang, Indonesia
Eka Julianta Wahjoepramono
Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, Pelita Harapan
University, Siloam Lippo Karawaci Hospital, Tangerang, Indonesia
Beny Atmadja Wirjomartani
Department ofNeurosurgery, Medical School, Padjadjaran
University, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia

References

I. Tekkok IH, Ventureyra EC. Spontaneous intracranial hemor-
rhage of structural origin during the first year of life. Childs
Nerv Syst 1997; 13 Suppl3: 154-65.
2. Sandberg DI, Lamberti-Pasculli M, Drake JM, Humphreys
RP, Rutka JT. Spontaneous intraparenchymal hemorrhage in
full-term neonates. Neurosurgery 2001;48: 1042--49
3. Looney CB, Smith JK, Merck LH, Wolfe HM, Chescheir
NC, Hamer RM, Gilmore JH. Intracranial Hemorrhage in
Asymptomatic Neonates: Prevalence on MR Images and
Relationship to Obstetric and Neonatal Risk Factors. Radial-
ogy 2006;242:535
4. Huang AH, Robertson RL. Spontaneous Superficial Paren-
chymal and Leptomeningeal Hemorrhage in Term Neonates.
AJNR 2004;25:469-75.
5. Hanigan WC, Powell FC, Miller TC, Wright RM. Symptom-
atic intracranial hemorrhage in full-term infants. Childs Nerv
Syst 1995; 11:698-707
6. Looney CB, SmithJK, Merck LH, Wolfe HM, Chescheir NC,
Hamer RM, et al. Intracranial hemorrhage in asymptomatic
neonates. Radiology 2007 ;242:535-41.
Published
2008-08-31
How to Cite
1.
July J, Wahjoepramono E, Wirjomartani B. Diagnostic clues in spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in babies. PI [Internet]. 31Aug.2008 [cited 29Nov.2024];48(4):230-. Available from: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/573
Section
Articles
Received 2016-09-10
Accepted 2016-09-10
Published 2008-08-31