[Intracranial hemorrhage secondary to vitamin K deficiency in an infant despite oral vitamin K prophylaxis : Also a challenge for the anesthesiologist]

Abstract

This article presents the case of a 6-week-old infant who, despite oral vitamin K prophylaxis and otherwise normal developmental progress, suffered a severe intracerebral and subdural hemorrhage, which required surgical evacuation. The interdisciplinary approach is described with emphasis on the management of hemostasis. Furthermore, the clinical picture of intracranial bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency, which is nowadays rare in the Western World, is described in the anesthesiology literature for the first time. The usual recommendations regarding prophylaxis as well as certain risk factors are presented.

Keywords: Coagulation; Infant; Intracerebral hemorrhage; Thromboelastometry; Vitamin K deficiency bleeding.