Abstract

Twelve low birthweight preterm infants were treated for progressive posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus by ventriculoperitoneal diversion of cerebrospinal fluid. At a median postnatal age of 20 months, 6 were moderately or severely retarded. Convulsions in the first week of life were associated with a poorer prognosis and frequent taps to remove cerebrospinal fluid with a better outcome.