[Incidence of peri- and intraventricular hemorrhages in a premature population at the Central Hospital of Yaounde (Cameroon)]. / Incidence des hémorragies péri- et intraventriculaires dans une population de prématurés à l'Hôpital Central de Yaoundé (Cameroun).

In Cameroon, prematurity is common but few studies have been carried out on periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage in premature neonates. Seventy neonates born between 28 and 34 weeks gestational age were studied by cerebral ultrasonography. Thirty infants (42.8%) showed evidence of periventricular or intraventricular bleeding. This proportion was 58.3% in infants born between 28 and 31 weeks gestational age. All stage III (3 cases) and stage IV (2 cases) hemorrhages were bilateral. Bilateral bleeding was less common among patients with stage I (2 cases) or stage II (2 cases) hemorrhages. Among patients born between 32 and 34 weeks gestational age, only 34.8% had ventricular hemorrhage which was always stage I or II and usually unilateral (two stage I and one stage II bilateral bleeds). The incidence of periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage is high in Yaoundé. Ultrasonographic evaluation should be routinely performed in infants born before 35 weeks gestational age.