Role of transcranial ultrasound augmented by color Doppler study in evaluation neonatal brain problem in preterm patient

Abstract

Background: It is well known that the number of surviving preterm infants is today steadily rising. In spite of the improvements in perinatal medicine, brain injury is still a major clinical problem and remains an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The main aim to assess the significance of universal cranial ultrasound screening in all preterm neonates in the neonatal ICU with gestational age between 28 and 37 weeks of gestational age even if clinically silent. Methods: One hundred (100) preterm neonates were examined after delivery by 3-7 days by cranial Doppler ultrasound at radiology department of Benha Children Hospital (BENCH). Fifty two of them were male patients and 48 were females. The age ranged from 28 to 37 weeks (early neonate from 28 to 32 weeks and moderate & late neonate from 32 to 37 weeks, using two transducer probes, convex Array transducer (6 MHz) and Linear Array transducer (7.5 MHz). The anterior fontanel was used as the principal acoustic window. The trans-mastoid view was additionally used particularly to assess the posterior fossa structures. Results: Through the scheduled study period, one hundred (100) preterm neonates were examined by convex array transducer and linear array transducer, the anterior fontanel was used as the principal acoustic window, 52% of them were male patients and 48% were female patients, with age ranging from 28 to 37 weeks classified as group I > 32 weeks represent 44% and group II ≥ 32 weeks represent 56%. Conclusion: Cranial ultrasound was proven to have a significant role in evaluation neonatal brain problems in preterm patients while most of abnormal brain scans are usually asymptomatic patients.