title: Neurodevelopmental outcome of post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation at 12 and 24 months corrected age with high-threshold therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The management of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus remains a discussion. We describe the neurodevelopmental outcome at the corrected age of 12 and 24 months of infants with PHVD treated with high-threshold therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe, and compare the neurodevelopmental outcome of a cohort of premature infants with grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage with or without development of PHVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart and image review of all IVH grade III and IV infants admitted to the department of Neonatology of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands between January 1999 and December 2006. A standardized neurodevelopmental examination was performed at the corrected ages of 12 and 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 118 cases with IVH were identified. IVH grade III: n = 63, mean gestational age (GA): 28 weeks (SD 2.3), median birth weight (BW): 1130 g (range 908-1460 g); IVH IV: n = 31, mean GA: 28 weeks (SD 2.4), median BW: 1105 g (range 925-1230 g). Grade III and IV cases developed PHVD in 75% versus 42% respectively. Abnormal outcome in IVH III patients mainly occurred in cases with PHVD (12 months: 47% abnormal, 24 months: 64% abnormal). In the IVH IV cases, outcome was comparable with or without PHVD. Developmental delay was more pronounced at 24 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mainly IVH III cases developed PHVD. Comparing our results with the literature neurodevelopmental outcome was poorer with our high-threshold therapy.
authors: Department of Neonatology, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. savanzanten@gmail.com
authors: Sascha A
authors: SA
authors: van Zanten
authors: Timo R
authors: TR
authors: de Haan
authors: Jennie
authors: J
authors: Ursum
authors: Loekie
authors: L
authors: van Sonderen