Neonatal Subgaleal Hemorrhage

Reid, Julie RNC, MSN, NNP

Accepted for publication February 2006. Revised March 2006.

About the Author

Julie Reid is a recent graduate of the NNP/MSN program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She received her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Oklahoma in 1996. Julie has been a neonatal staff nurse at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for the past ten years. She received her RNC certification in 2001.

The author would like to thank Dr. Carol Trotter and the Integris Baptist Medical Center librarians for their assistance and encouragement with this manuscript.

For further information, please contact: Julie Reid, RNC, MSN, NNP Integris Baptist Medical Center, NICU 3300 NW Expressway Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-949-3993 Email: [email protected]

Neonatal Network 26(4):p 219-227, July-August 2007.

Subgaleal hemorrhages, although infrequent in the past, are becoming more common with the increased use of vacuum extraction. Bleeding into the large subgaleal space can quickly lead to hypovolemic shock, which can be fatal. Understanding of anatomy, pathophysiology, risk factors, differential diagnosis, and management will assist in early recognition and care of the infant with a subgaleal hemorrhage.