Bleeding into the ventricles inside the brain; in neonates occurs mainly in premature infants
Pathophysiology
- Germinal matrix is the most common type - related to perinatal stress affecting the highly vascularised germinal matrix
- By 35-36 weeks gestation, the germinal matrix has essentially disappeared and thus the risk of haemorrhage is markedly reduced
Classification
- Grade 1 and 2 - neurodevelopmental delay up to 20%, mortality 10%
- Grade 3 and 4 - neurodevelopmental delay up to 80%, mortality 50%