Intracranial hemorrhage in infants caused by vitamin K deficiency:a clinical analysis of 36 cases

Objective To appraise the clinical features, long-term prognosis and precaution of intracraniai hemorrhage in infants caused by vitamin K deficiency. Methods Thirty-six patients with intracranial hemorrhage caused by vitamin K deficiency were admitted to our pediatric department from Nov. 2000 to Sep. 2007 and the etiology, clinical features, imaging characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and precaution in these infants were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical treatments, including burr hole drainage, hematoma evacuation by craniotomy, hematoma evacuation and decompression by removing the bone plates and the ventricular drainage were performed on 13 patients. The other 23 patients accepted such medical conservative treatments as hemostasis, reducing of the intracranial pressure, sedation, spasmolysis, and supplement of vitamin K1. Results During hospitalization, 35 patients survived with varying degrees of improvement and 1 death. Successful follow-up from half a month to seven years alter discharge from the hospital showed that 1 death and lwith neurological deficit appeared in the surgical patients, and 1 death and 4 with varying degrees of deficit in the patients with medical treatment. Conclusion Timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatments can increase the survival rate and reduce the mortality and morbidity of this disease. In addition, public awareness and preventive measures are important in reducing the incidence of this disease. Key words: Vitamin K deficiency; Intracranial hemorrhage; Infant