Infant Intracranial Hemorrhages (Brain Bleeds)
What we've shown is that if you get these bleeds, you don't have to think something has gone wrong with the delivery, because these are common - Prof John Gilmore
HWN Suggests
One in four natural births causes brain haemorrhage
Giving birth naturally increases the risk of minor brain haemorrhages in newborn babies, according to a study. Brain scans of babies aged between one and five weeks showed small ruptures in blood vessels in or around the brain are common, affecting one in four children born naturally. Babies delivered by caesarean section showed no signs of even minor bleeding. In most cases, the haemorrhages are harmless and heal naturally, but larger ruptures can affect brain development, leading to seizures, or problems with learning or coordination.
Articles of Interest
Birth-related subdural hemorrhage: prevalence and imaging morphology
Birth trauma accounts for 1-2% of the mortality in newborns with significant intracranial injuries presenting in the immediate postnatal period. However, a significant number of asymptomatic neonates harbor birth-related intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), with birth-related subdural hemorrhage (SDH) being a common occurrence on infant brain CT and MRI studies performed as a standard of care for a variety of reasons.
Causes and Risk Factors of Pediatric Spontaneous Intracranial Hemorrhage—A Systematic Review
Previous studies suggest that the most common cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in children and adolescents is arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). However, an update containing recently published data on pediatric spontaneous intracranial hemorrhages is lacking.
In Birth Study, No Less a Risk in a Caesarean
All three methods -- vacuum, forceps and Caesarean -- were associated with a slightly greater risk of brain hemorrhage in the infant than a normal vaginal delivery. Because this study relied only on birth certificates, it did not provide information about how the babies fared in the long run; depending on how extensive the bleeding is and where it occurs in the skull, brain hemorrhages can be so mild that they go unnoticed, or severe enough to cause cerebral palsy or mental retardation.
Infant Intracranial Hemorrhages (Brain Bleeds): Signs, Symptoms, Causes
Infant intracranial hemorrhages (otherwise known as brain bleeds) are birth injuries that range from minor to extremely severe. They can be caused by birth asphyxia (oxygen deprivation during or around the time of birth) or birth trauma (injuries caused by excessive mechanical force to the baby’s head).
Intracranial hemorrhage in full-term newborns: a hospital-based cohort study
In recent years, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) with parenchymal involvement has been diagnosed more often in full-term neonates due to improved neuroimaging techniques. In spite of often large intraparenchymal lesions, 30 of the 34 survivors without CP (88.2%) had normal neurodevelopmental outcome at 15 months.
Intracranial hemorrhage in neonates: A review of etiologies, patterns and predicted clinical outcomes
Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in neonates often results in devastating neurodevelopmental outcomes as the neonatal period is a critical window for brain development. The neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates with ICH are determined by the maturity of the brain, the location and extent of the hemorrhage, the specific underlying etiology and the presence of other concomitant disorders. Neonatal ICH may result from various inherited and acquired disorders.
Intracranial Hemorrhage in Neonates: Causes, Diagnosis, and Management
The cause of neonatal ICH is multifactorial and includes hemorrhage related to prematurity, hemorrhagic stroke, infection, vascular malformations, bleeding disorders, and genetic causes. Iatrogenic coagulopathy during cardiopulmonary bypass/extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can also be a cause. Most patients can be managed without surgical intervention.
Intracranial hemorrhage in term neonates
Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is an uncommon but important cause of morbidity and mortality in term neonates; currently, ICH is more frequently diagnosed because of improved neuroimaging techniques.
Neonatal Intracranial Hemorrhage
It can happen in different areas of the brain and is associated with factors such as prematurity, trauma, asphyxia, and other conditions. Prompt recognition and multidisciplinary care are crucial for optimizing the survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants with intracranial hemorrhage.
Neonatal Intracranial Hemorrhage
It is common for hemorrhages to occur in multiple sites both intra and extra cranial.
Resources
HIE Help Center
Newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) often also have intracranial hemorrhages. Both are considered birth injuries. Children with HIE and/or intracranial hemorrhages are also at increased risk for permanent disabilities such as cerebral palsy.
StatPearls
Traumatic intracranial hemorrhages include epidural, subdural, subarachnoid, intraventricular, and less frequently intracerebral and intracerebellar hemorrhages.
