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Neonatal subgaleal hemorrhage: twenty years of trends in incidence, associations, and outcomes

Journal of Perinatology volume 43, pages 573–577 (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background

In 2011, we reported 38 neonates with subgaleal hemorrhage (SH), relating an increasing incidence. It is unclear whether the incidence in our hospitals continued to rise and which risk factors and outcomes are associated with this condition.

Design

We retrospectively analyzed every recognized case of SH in our hospitals from the end of our previous report (2010) to the present (2022). We redescribed the incidence, scored severity, tabulated blood products transfused, and recorded outcomes.

Results

Across 141 months, 191 neonates were diagnosed with SH; 30 after vacuum or forceps. The incidence (one/1815 births) was higher than in our 2011 report (one/7124 births). Also, severe SH (requiring transfusion) was more common (one/10,033 births vs. one/20,950 births previously). Four died (all with severe SH) and 12 had neurodevelopmental impairment.

Conclusion

Recognized cases of SH are increasing in our system without a clear explanation. Adverse outcomes are rare but continue to occur.

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Fig. 1: Annual cases of neonatal subgaleal hemorrhage recognized at Intermountain Healthcare hospitals, 2002–2021.

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Data availability

A deidentified dataset is available by written request to the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Molly Adams, Intermountain Healthcare Women and Newborn’s Research Department, for assistance with Institutional Review Board communications.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Utah, Student, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Thomas R. Christensen

  2. Obstetric and Neonatal Operations, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Timothy M. Bahr, Erick Henry, Con Yee Ling, Jessica M. Page, Nicholas R. Carr, Robin K. Ohls & Robert D. Christensen

  3. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Timothy M. Bahr, Con Yee Ling, Taylor H. Hanton, Nicholas R. Carr, Robin K. Ohls & Robert D. Christensen

  4. Transfusion Medicine, Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, UT, USA

    Sarah J. Ilstrup

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Contributions

TRC: conceptualization, investigation, data curation, and review of final manuscript. TMB: conceptualization, investigation, data curation, data analysis, and review of final manuscript. EH: investigation, data curation, and review of final manuscript. CL: conceptualization and review of final manuscript. THH: conceptualization, investigation, data curation, and review of final manuscript. JMP: conceptualization and review of final manuscript. SJL: investigation, data curation, and review of final manuscript. NRC: conceptualization and review of final manuscript. RKO: conceptualization and review of final manuscript. RDC: conceptualization, investigation, data curation, initial draft of manuscript, and review of final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Timothy M. Bahr.

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Christensen, T.R., Bahr, T.M., Henry, E. et al. Neonatal subgaleal hemorrhage: twenty years of trends in incidence, associations, and outcomes. J Perinatol 43, 573–577 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01541-z

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