Sonographic and Doppler Sonographic Diagnosis of Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus

Abstract Severe intracranial hemorrhages occur especially in very immature premature infants born with a gestational age under 28 weeks of gestation and a birth weight below 1000 g. Severe hemorrhages are often complicated by a post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH). PHH can be caused by a blockage of the cerebro-spinal fluid pathways or by obliterative arachnoiditis of the posterior cranial fossa. Cerebral sonography can differentiate between both entities. In cases of obstruction of the cerebro-spinal fluid circulation the parts of the ventricular system infront of the obstruction are dilated. Color coded Dopple…