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The central New Jersey neonatal brain haemorrhage study: design of the study and reliability of ultrasound diagnosis
Author(s) -
PintoMartin Jennifer,
Paneth Nigel,
Witomski Thomas,
Stein Irving,
Schonfeld Steven,
Rosenfeld David,
Rose Walter,
Kazam Elias,
Kairam Ram,
Katsikiotis Vasilis,
Susser Mervyn
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
paediatric and perinatal epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3016
pISSN - 0269-5022
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3016.1992.tb00767.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anterior fontanelle , pediatrics , germinal matrix , intracranial haemorrhage , etiology , fontanelle , prospective cohort study , ultrasound , radiology , intraventricular hemorrhage , gestational age , surgery , neurosurgery , hydrocephalus , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Summary. Over a 34‐month period, 1105 newborns weighing between 501 and 2000 g at birth were enrolled in a prospective study of the aetiology and consequences of neonatal brain haemorrhage. The three participating hospitals cared for approximately 85% of births in the study weight range in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties, New Jersey. Cranial ultrasonographic imaging through the anterior fontanelle was carried out at a mean age of 4.9 ± 2.2 hours, 25.5 ± 4.8 hours and 7.2 ± 0.8 days to detect haemorrhage and other brain lesions. In 93.2% of study infants, scans were read by two independent expert readers (blind to the clinical status of the child) with submission of the scan to a third reader in cases of disagreement. Confirmation of both presence or absence and, when present, scan of first diagnosis of germinal matrix and/or intraventricular haemorrhage (GM/IVH) by two independent readers was achieved in 76.3% of study infants. The first two readers agreed as to presence or absence of GM/IVH in 82.4% of infants (Kappa = 0.56). Interobserver agreement was affected by the reported scan quality and by the number of scans available, but not by the hospital of origin, race or birthweight of the infant.