TREATMENT OF INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE IN THE PREMATURE-INFANT WITHUROKINASE

Hydrocephalus secondary to intraventricular hemorrhage in the prematur e infant is common and is secondary to the presence of blood in the su barachnoid space. Rapid clearance of the blood may reduce the incidenc e of permanent hydrocephalus and mitigate the need for shunt placement . We have treated 4 premature infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephal us with urokinase, a thrombolytic agent, instilled into the ventricles via a surgically paced ventricular access device. The infants were tr eated with 10,000 IU of urokinase twice a day for 1 week. No adverse r eactions have occurred and none of the infants has required shunt plac ement, In a group of historical controls, the shunt rate was 87%.