Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and hydrocephalus in premature babies. Ventricular lavage reduces brain injury and disability in posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus by to remove toxic substances released by old blood (eg free iron and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Hypoxic-ischaemic injury in babies born at full term. Total body hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy improved the odds of surviving without neurological impairment at 18 months. Since 1998 the 2 Bristol neonatal intensive care units have been pioneers in therapeutic cooling for babies.