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Rapidly progressive enlargement of the fourth ventricle in the preterm infant with post‐haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation
Author(s) -
Rademaker KJ,
Govaert P,
Vandertop WP,
Gooskens R,
Meiners LC,
Vries LS de
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1995.tb13523.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ventricle , shunt (medical) , cerebral ventricle , hydrocephalus , third ventricle , cardiology , surgery
Six preterm infants who developed disproportionate enlargement of the 4th ventricle during the neonatal period, associated with post‐haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD), before shunt placement are reported. Five of the six preterm infants developed cyanotic spells and/or bradycardias at the time of rapid enlargement of the 4th ventricle, suggestive of raised posterior fossa pressure, which resolved following insertion of and drainage from a subcutaneous reservoir. In one of the three survivors an isolated 4th ventricle was subsequently diagnosed later in infancy, requiring drainage. These data suggest that a combination of an enlarged 4th ventricle on ultrasound and cyanotic spells and/or bradycardias should lead to rapid release of raised pressure in the posterior fossa. Long‐term follow‐up of these children is necessary, as isolation of the 4th ventricle can subsequently develop. Hydrocephalus, intraventricular haemorrhage, isolated 4th ventricle, preterm infant