Abstract
We made the clinical observation that VLBWI's covered by hematomas after birth (“bruised babies”) had a relative high incidence of Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH). To quantify this observation one of us (E.H., obstetrician) classified in 132 VLBWI's (Gestational Age below 211 days, mean GA 28 w +o 1 d, mean birth weight 1,069 gr) the birth mode into mechanically difficult or easy, without knowing the outcome. The two groups of infants were compared in respect to frequency of IVH II° to IV°. The overall-rate of IVH was 23%. IVH was found in 68% (19 out of 28) after difficult and in 12% (12 from 104) after easy delivery (p below 10−6) After vaginal delivery the ratio was 100% vs. 4% (8 from 8 vs. 1 from 24; p below 10−6), after cesarean section 55% vs. 14% (11 from 20 vs. 11 from 80; p below 0.000,1). There were no differences in GA between infants with difficult or easy delivery (27 w + 6 d vs. 28 w + 2 d) nor between infants with or without IVH (28 w + 0 d vs. 28 w + 1 d).
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
von Loewenich, V., Halberstadt, E. MECHANICAL LOAD OF BIRTH AND INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE. Pediatr Res 22, 226 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00079
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00079