Decreased Cerebral Oxygenation in Premature Infants with Progressive Posthemorrhagic Ventricular Dilatation May Help with Timing of Intervention.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the degree of progressive posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) that is associated with a significant decrease in regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO) in premature infants at risk for periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH).

Study Design: Cranial ultrasound (US) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements of rScO were performed on inborn infants with birth weights less than 1,250 g on admission and at 1, 4, and 8 weeks of age. Infants with severe PIVH were studied weekly. A 1-hour average of rScO was compared with the frontal-occipital horn ratio (FOHR) measured the same day. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the relationship between FOHR and rScO, by severity of PIVH, and adjusted for gestational age. Cut-off points of 0.55 for FOHR and 45% for rScO were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: The study cohort included 63 infants with normal US, 15 with grade-1 or -2 PIVH (mild group), and 21 with grade-3 or -4 PIVH (severe group). Increases in FOHR in the severe group were associated with decreases in rScO at 1 week ( = 0.036), 4 weeks ( = 0.013), and 8 weeks of life ( = 0.001) compared with the normal and mild groups. Infants with FOHR greater than 0.55 were 92% more likely to have rScO less than 45% when compared with infants with FOHR less than 0.55 (OR = 0.08, 95% CI: [0.04, 0.13],  < 0.001).

Conclusion: Progressive PHVD (FOHR > 0.55) is a strong predictor of compromised cerebral oxygenation. A combination of rScO and FOHR measurements may aid in identifying infants with PHVD that would benefit from early intervention.

Key Points: · Earlier intervention in PHVD may improve outcomes.. · PHVD is diagnosed with US measurements of ventricular size.. · FOHR > 0.55 is associated with decreased cerebral perfusion..