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The secret to preventing intraventricular hemorrhage: How to use science to protect the unborn baby?
Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is bleeding involving the ventricular system of the brain and can have serious consequences for the unborn baby. Understanding the background, symptoms, causes and prevention measures of this condition is crucial to protecting your baby's health.
What is intraventricular hemorrhage?
Intraventricular hemorrhage is blood entering the brain's ventricular system, usually due to physical trauma or hemorrhagic stroke. According to research reports, about 30% of intraventricular hemorrhage is primary, usually caused by intraventricular trauma, aneurysms, vascular malformations or tumors. However, up to 70% are caused by extension of an existing intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage.
SymptomsAdults
Symptoms in adults are often similar to those of other intracerebral hemorrhages and include sudden, severe headache, nausea and vomiting, and changes in mental status or level of consciousness. Focal neurologic abnormalities are usually subtle, but focal or generalized seizures may occur. The presence of yellow material (xanthochromia) in the clear CSF is also a common finding.
Babies
In infants, some may be asymptomatic, while others may show difficult-to-detect abnormalities in consciousness, muscle tone, breathing, and eye and body movements.
Causes of intraventricular hemorrhageAdults
Causes of intraventricular hemorrhage in adults include physical trauma or hemorrhagic stroke.
Babies
Premature and very low birth weight babies are at particularly high risk. Intraventricular hemorrhage usually arises from the germinal matrix in premature infants and from the choroid plexus in term infants. In premature infants, intraventricular hemorrhage is caused mainly by changes in blood flow, especially in the case of malignant changes in brain cells, which makes the fragile cerebrovascular system more vulnerable to damage.
"In premature infants, the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage is generally greatest within the first 72 hours after birth."
How to prevent intraventricular hemorrhage
In the antenatal period, studies have shown that a single dose of steroids given between 24 and 33 weeks of gestation is effective in reducing the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage in the neonatal period. Although head positioning in premature infants has also been proposed as a preventive measure, further research is needed to verify its effectiveness in reducing mortality and the specific positioning technique.
Treatment of intraventricular hemorrhageTreatment of intraventricular hemorrhage focuses primarily on monitoring. Patients who are able to respond to commands may be hospitalized for observation, while those with impaired consciousness require intensive observation. Monitoring of intracranial pressure and medications to maintain blood pressure and blood coagulation may also be necessary. In severe cases, external ventricular drainage or craniotomy may be necessary.
Prognosis and Research
For premature babies, intraventricular hemorrhage may cause cerebral palsy and cognitive impairment. Although the survival rate has improved with the advancement of medical technology, the prognosis is still poor. Unfortunately, the long-term effects of these conditions place considerable stress on many families.
"Each year, approximately 2,000 infants in the United States are diagnosed with premature intraventricular hemorrhage."
Faced with such challenges, the medical community continues to strive to find more effective preventive measures and treatment options so that unborn babies can grow up in a safe environment. Are you willing to learn how to protect your unborn baby through scientific methods?
