Definition

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is bleeding into the spaces of a baby’s brain. IVH is most common in premature babies.

IVH may cause damage to brain tissue and lead to long-term development problems.

Causes

IVH is caused by the rupture of immature or fragile blood vessels in the brain. It is not clear why this happens but changes in blood pressure may play a role.

Risk Factors

Factors that increase your baby’s chance of developing IVH include:

• Prematurity
• Low birth weight
• Lack of oxygen
• Direct trauma to the baby’s head during birth
• Breathing complications at birth
• Infection that leads to blood clotting problems
• Severe infection

Symptoms

It often occurs in the first 48 hours after birth. In many cases, there are no visible signs of IVH. Symptoms that may occur include:

• Swelling of soft spots at the top of the head
• Pauses in breathing
• Seizures
• Muscle spasms
• Pale or blue color
• Weak suck

Diagnosis

A physical exam will be done. The doctor will look for any signs of a brain injury.

An ultrasound will be used to make images of the brain structures, blood vessels, and blood flow in the brain.

Other tests, like blood tests, may be done to look for anemia and causes of the bleeding.

Treatment

In most cases, the bleeding gradually stops. Treatment options include:

• Monitoring your baby’s condition to manage any complications.
• Treating any other medical conditions associated with the bleeding.

Certain procedures or surgery may need to be done to relieve pressure in the brain:

• Ventriculoperitoneal shunt—a tube that runs under the skin and allows fluid to drain from the ventricle (brain) to the abdomen
• Lumbar puncture, fontanelle tap, or surgery—to drain fluid from your baby’s brain

Prevention

If you are at risk of having a premature baby, you may be given medication to decrease the chance of IVH.

Healthy Children—American Academy of Pediatrics http://healthychildren.org

Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Intraventricular hemorrhage. Boston Children’s Hospital website. Available at:
http://www.childrenshospital.org/health-topics/conditions/intraventricular-hemorrhage
Accessed September 15, 2015.

Intraventricular hemorrhage of infancy. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed
Updated April 3, 2014. Accessed September 15, 2015.

Fowlie PW, Davis PG, McGuire W. Prophylactic intravenous indomethacin for preventing mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev 2010;7:CD000174.