Management of post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus in premature infants

Abstract

Post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) is the most common neurological complication of preterm birth and can result in severe and life-long psychomotor and cognitive sequelae. Cerebrospinal fluid diversion is often required but the optimum time for intervention is unclear. Numerous neurosurgical procedures exist to temporise PHH but it is not clear which is the optimum method. Approximately 15% of preterm infants who suffer intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) will require permanent cerebrospinal fluid diversion with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. It is likely that earlier intervention may result in reduced neurological disability and ventriculoperitoneal shunt dependency. In this review we discuss the current methods of PHH management.

Keywords: Hydrocephalus; Infants; Intraventricular haemorrhage; Post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus; Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.