Open AccessTranscranial US of preterm neonates: High risk gestational age and birth weight for perinatal asphyxia
Author(s) -
Mahmoud Agha,
Gehad Selmi,
Mohamed Ezzat
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the egyptian journal of radiology and nuclear medicine /the egyptian journal of radiology and nuclear medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.19
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 2090-4762
pISSN - 0378-603X
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejrnm.2012.02.001
Subject(s) - medicine , intraventricular hemorrhage , gestational age , hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy , pediatrics , low birth weight , asphyxia , birth weight , perinatal asphyxia , encephalopathy , obstetrics , pregnancy , genetics , biology
ObjectiveThe study aims to determine the high risk gestational week (GW) and/or birth weight (BW) of the preterm neonate, below which perinatal hypoxic cerebral injuries are expected to occur.Material and methodsEighty preterm neonates, born at or before 37 GW, were included. Twenty-three of them were <32 GW and 57 >32 GW. Also, 28 of them were <1500g and 52 >1500g. Imaging was done by transcranial ultrasound with 4–9MHz curvilinear probe. CT scan was additionally performed for only 18 candidates. The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee in Al-Mana General Hospital (AGH).ResultsIntraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) was diagnosed in six preterm neonates <32 GW and two >32 GW. Three <32 GW and one >32 GW presented with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) with no hemorrhage. Two preterm neonates <32 GW had both IVH & HIE. All positive cases were below 1500g BW.ConclusionPreterm neonates <32 GW and/or <1500g are highly susceptible for HIE and/or IVH. Thus, special medical care, including post-labor hospitalization in well equipped special baby care units (SCBU) and routine transcranial ultrasound (TCUS) screening is recommended for those preterm neonates