Question
How should subependymal hemorrhage in newborns be handled?
Answer
Subependymal hemorrhage in newborns is a relatively mild type of intracranial hemorrhage that can be precisely diagnosed through computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, providing insights into the type, location, and extent of the hemorrhage, as well as an assessment of the prognosis. Depending on the severity of the hemorrhage, intracranial hemorrhage in newborns is categorized into four grades:
- Grade I: Subependymal hemorrhage.
- Grade II: Intraventricular hemorrhage without ventricular dilation, with a survival rate of about 90% for newborns in this condition.
- Grade III: Intraventricular hemorrhage with ventricular dilation.
- Grade IV: Intraventricular hemorrhage with parenchymal hemorrhage. Even though it is a mild form of subependymal hemorrhage, it is still recommended to hospitalize the newborn to prevent possible complications. Generally, there is no need to go to a large hospital; a color Doppler ultrasound or CT scan can be used for an accurate diagnosis in most hospitals. For better diagnostic results, it is advisable to undergo CT or MRI scans.