Prediction of Intraventricular Hemorrhage Using Echocardiography and Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Moderate-severe intraventricular hemorrhage (msIVH, Grades II-IV) is a significant neurological complication among extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs, \<=27+6 weeks) and is associated with long-term neuro-disabilities. In Canada, msIVH affects \~25-30% of the 1300 ELGANs born annually, with little change in incidence over last decade. Typically, it occurs between days 2-7 of age, providing a finite window of opportunity. Instituting therapies at the population level, however, exposes many low-risk infants to side effects, adversely affecting risk-benefit profile and requiring large sample sizes in trials. A targeted preventative approach, though ideal, is currently challenged by our inability to reliably identify at-risk ELGANs early after birth. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive bedside neuromonitoring tool. Pilot studies using NIRS, i