Prevention of periventricular haemorrhage

Periventricular haemorrhage is an important cause of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in prematurely born infants. This review looks at the current practices in place for prevention of PVH and subsequent brain protection. Antenatal corticosteroids undoubtedly reduce the incidence of PVH and indomethacin given postnatally reduces the incidence of this complication but does not appear to improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. There is emerging evidence that inhaled nitric oxide may be effective as a neuroprotective agent.