Pediatric neurosurgery
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Pediatric neurosurgery · Feb 2001
Case ReportsIntracranial hemorrhage in neonates with unrecognized hemophilia A: a persisting problem.
Hemophilia is a rare disorder, and an uncommon cause of intracranial hemorrhage in neonates. We present 2 patients with hemophilia A, who presented with massive subdural hemorrhages on day 5 and day 4 postpartum. Both were taken urgently to surgery without a diagnosis of hemophilia being established. ⋯ Patient 2 was given prophylactic fresh frozen plasma, and made a good recovery. Factor VIII assay should be performed in all term male babies presenting with intracranial hemorrhage. In urgent circumstances, prophylactic clotting therapy should be administered during surgery to prevent postoperative bleeding in an undiagnosed hemophiliac.