Intaventricular Hemorrhage Case Study

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Pathophysiology
Intaventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is bleeding in the fragile capillaries that develop in the early months of prenatal development and grow stronger the last ten months of a pregnancy. There are four different degrees based on the bleeding and the areas that are damaged. Preterm infants are at a greater risk for bleeding during events that may cause fluctuations in cerebral blood flow because their blood vessels are not yet fully developed. When IVH occurs, the blood may rupture through the ependymal lining of the ventricles and fill the ventricular system. If it is a severe case, the bleeding may extend into the cerebral parenchyma network.
Bleeding in this area may lead to cycstic lesions that are a significant risk factor …show more content…

This has more subtle representation and appears over several hours, may stop, and then reappear. They will have an altered level of consciousness, hypotonia, subtle abnormal eye position and movements, decreased spontaneous or abnormal movements and an abnormally tight popliteal angle, and in some cases respiratory abnormalities.
The third category is clinically silent deterioration. This is often overlooked clinically with sudden unexplained decrease in hematocrit being the only sign.
Diagnosing
If the infant is at risk for IVH, or it is suspected, intracranial structure studies are done using ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. This will be performed at bedside within 4 to 7 days if there is a suspicion of IVH.
Treatment
Treatment of IVH is primarily aimed at prevention. Factors that predispose an infant to IVH should be prevented. These include: acidosis, electrolyte imbalances, rapid fluid shifts, administration of hyperosmolar solutions, and hypotension followed by rapid volume expansion. Vitamin E, maternal vitamin K, pancuronium, ibuprofen, phenobarbital, ethamylate, magnesium sulfate, indomethacin, surfactant, and antenatal betamethasone have had varying levels of success in the prevention of

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