CLINICAL PRESENTATION: 90% occur in the first 3 days after birth.
-Catastrophic: Acute IVH with bulging fontanel, split sutures, change in level of
consciousness, pupillary and cranial nerve abnormalities, decerebrate posturing, and
often with rapid decrease in blood pressure and/or hematocrit.
-Saltatory: Gradual deterioration in neurological status, may be subtle abnormalities in
level of consciousness, movement, tone, respiration and eye position/movement.
-Asymptomatic: 25-50% of IVH. Discovered on Ultrasound (U/S, see below). Fall in
hematocrit or failure of hematocrit to rise with transfusion should cause concern.