Acute impact of posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation on cerebral oxygenation in preterm infants with intraventricular haemorrhage.

Aim: To assess the effect of ventricular decompression on cerebral oxygenation in preterm neonates with intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).

Methods: Fifty-three preterm neonates born <34 weeks' gestation between 2013 and 2023 with IVH and subsequent PHVD were prospectively included. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO) as well as fractional cerebral tissue oxygen extraction (cFTOE) were analysed 2 weeks before and after ventricular decompression.