Role of intracranial ultrasonography in the evaluation of premature babies

Abstract EN

Background and Objective: In this study, the role of intracranial ultrasonography was evaluated in detecting intracranial abnormalities in premature neonates; furthermore, some maternal risk factors were evaluated for increasing incidence of intracranial abnormalities.

Materials and Methods: A prospective cross‑sectional study was done on 60 preterm neonates admitted in the neonatal care unit in both Raparin pediatric teaching hospital and maternity teaching hospital over a 5‑month period.

Neurosonogram was carried out for all within 1 week of life, and then, a second brain ultrasound (US) scan performed for them after 1 week if the first one was abnormal and the third scan for those who were abnormal at the second visit.

Results: Incidence of intracranial abnormalities by ultrasonography in preterm neonates is 13.3% in the present study.

There were 50% male and 50% female neonates.

Ten percent of the study sample had evidence of intraventricular bleeding, and 3.3% had ventricular dilatation.

There is a significant association between maternal risk factors and incidence of intracranial abnormalities (P = 0.01), and furthermore, there is a significant association between weight and gestational age (P = 0.001).

There is no significant association between US finding with each of weight, gestational age, gender, and mode of delivery.

Conclusion: Neurosonogram is the best initial method of investigation for preterm babies in the evaluation of intracranial abnormalities even if clinically silent.

Maternal risk factors should be taken into consideration in increasing incidence of intracranial abnormalities.

It is best to perform neurosonogram studies on all preterm babies within the 1st week of birth.

It is widely available, cheap, and repeatable.