Evolution of Neurosonographic Findings After Periventricular/Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Abstract

Background: Periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage (PVH/IVH) has a major impact on neurodevelopment due to its complications and sequelae. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the frequency of neurosonographic examination and the length of the monitoring period in children diagnosed with PVH/IVH. Methods: This clinical observational analytical retrospective cohort study was performed on 102 children diagnosed with PVH/IVH. The examinations were done on the third, seventh, fourteenth, and twenty-first days after birth and then in the fourth and sixth weeks and the third and sixth months after birth. The results of the examinations performed over time were subjected to the kappa measure of agreement test, with a significance threshold of 0.05, to determine the period when the most significant changes occur in the patient’s condition, as well as to determine the optimum frequency of the examination. Results: There was statistically significant agreement between the results of all the examinations performed in the observed moments (P < 0.0005). However, it is indicative that the agreement was excellent for the fourth week (kappa agreement was more than 0.85), followed by the sixth week that was very good (kappa agreement was 0.79); however, the agreement for the sixth week and the third month was very small (kappa agreement was less than 0.1). Also, there were no major changes (kappa agreement between results from the third and sixth months was 0.88). Conclusions: The first neurosonographic examination should be conducted in the first 7 days after birth, and the control examination should be conducted at the age of 4 - 6 weeks. If a pathological finding is observed, the examination is repeated after the specified period until a stationary finding is observed. After the third month, no new changes in the finding are observed.