Widespread retinal hemorrhages after retinopathy of prematurity screening with scleral depression.

Publication/Presentation Date

12-1-2011

Abstract

We report a case of extensive bilateral intraretinal hemorrhages in a premature infant with active retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) after an examination with scleral depression. In the only other previously reported case, the retinal hemorrhages were limited to the posterior pole of an eye with preexisting vitreous hemorrhage, and the child had a history of severe necrotizing enterocolitis that required surgery. Investigators have hypothesized that the combination of ocular manipulation, abrupt intraocular pressure change, and fragile immature retinal vasculature with poor autoregulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of retinal hemorrhages. Physicians performing ROP examinations should be aware of this possibility and judiciously use scleral depression; however, examination-induced retinal hemorrhages in children have never been reported in the absence of active ROP.

Volume

15

Issue

6

First Page

609

Last Page

611

ISSN

1528-3933

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics

PubMedID

22153413

Department(s)

Department of Pediatrics

Document Type

Article

Share

COinS