title: [External ventricle drainage in newborn infants with rapidly growing posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus].
abstract: 14 newborn infants (birth weight: 1830 +/- 930 gms, gestational age 33 +/- 4 wks) (mean +/- SD) with rapidly progressive posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus and increased intracranial pressure were treated by means of external ventricular drainage. Progression of hydrocephalus was arrested during the drainage period in each patient. The drainage was kept in place for 20 +/- 12 days, the longest drainage period being 48 days. 8 of 10 surviving patients showed recurrence of progressive ventricular dilatation, 5 required a ventriculoatrial and 3 a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The other 2 infants required no further therapy. Implantation of a permanent shunt was performed at day 28 to 88 after delivery, at the time of implantation the weight of the infants was 2400 +/- 950 gms (lowest weight 1650 gms). Bacterial cultures of ventricular liquor were negative in 66 and positive in 7 instances. Clinical and biochemical evidence of ventriculitis was absent in all patients. 4 of the 14 patients died of causes unrelated to external ventricular drainage. 10 infants survived. 7 out of 10 survivors suffered from IVH 3; 6 subsequently showed normal neurological development and one was retarded. 3 patients with parenchymal lesions (2 patients: IVH 4, 1 patient: primarily intraparenchymal haemorrhage) had neurological handicaps. We consider external ventricular drainage to be an effective form of therapy in newborn infants with rapidly progressive posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus and increased intracranial pressure because this treatment achieves prompt and sustained decrease in intraventricular pressure without complications.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Neonatologie, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Wien.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weninger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simbruner
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Salzer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenkranz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lesigang
mesh_terms: D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D004453:Echoencephalography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010537:Peritoneum; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology
vernacular_title: Externe Ventrikeldrainage bei Neugeborenen mit rasch wachsendem posthämorrhagischem Hydrozephalus.