Value of transcranial ultrasound screening for the preterm in the neonatal ICU

Abstract

Abstract Background preterm neonates less than 37 weeks of gestational age are more liable to hemorrhagic and ischemic brain lesions due to the immaturity of capillary bed, cerebral auto-regulation and vascular anastomosis, with consequent adverse outcome, poor cognitive development, and cerebral palsy. Cranial ultrasound is a safe imaging modality with no need to radiation exposure or sedation. Aim of the Work to evaluate the usefulness of universal cranial ultrasound screening in preterm neonates in the neonatal ICU with gestational age between 28 and 37 weeks to detect the different intra cranial pathologies in this pediatric group. Patients and Methods After taking approval by the Radiology Department Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Ain shams University, the current study was performed on all preterm neonates (50) admitted to neonatal ICU in Ain shams hospital between 28 and 37 weeks of gestational age, between the third and seventh day of life, from July 1, 2017 to April 1, 2018 were included in the study. Results The study showed normal transcrainal ultrasound (72.0%), Germinal matrix hemorrhage (10.0%), Intraventricular hemorrhage (6.0%), Periventricular leukomalacia (6.0%), Congenital anomalies is Dandy walker malformation (2.0%), Chiari malformation (0.0%), Agenesis of corpus callosum (2.0%) and Porencephalic cyst (2.0%) of finding of ultrasound. Conclusion The importance of preterm screening by cranial ultrasound is sustained by the observation that most preterm neonates with abnormal CUS are usually asymptomatic. Only occasionally these patients develop symptoms.Linear high frequency probe of ultrasound was of great benefit in better visualization of anatomical details and mild pathological lesions.