Hypocarbia as a pathogenic factor in pontosubicular necrosis.

In neonates pontosubicular necrosis (PSN) is one of the patterns of acute brain injury, the sites of maximum damage being the basis pontis and the subiculum of the hippocampus. A retrospective clinical and pathological study was performed on 16 preterm and 2 term neonates with PSN and compared with 16 age-matched controls. The results indicated that hypocarbia of less than 20 mmHg was one of the important factors in the pathogenesis of PSN.