An ultrasound protocol in premature infants with intracranial hemorrhage

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Prematurity is a great health problem in our country and in the world. There are more than 11% of premature births in America annually, and in Europe this rate is between 5-10%. In Vojvodina, 9% of babies are born prematurely. Intracranial hemorrhage takes a sifnificant place in the morbidity of prematurely born children. INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE IN PREMATURE NEWBORN INFANTS: Incomplete CNS development of premature infants causes numerous complications, but it is also the factor which enables survival of extremely immature infants without sequelae. The management protocol depends on the level of hemorrhage. Early diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage and determination of the level of hemorrhage are of utmost importance for disability prevention. ULTRASOUND IN MONITORING INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE: Brain monitoring of prematurely born babies is performed by ultrasound. This type of visualization has several advantages over other techniques: it is mobile, so colled "bedside technique", it is relatively cheap, it may be repeated several times, it is possible to define the exact time of hemorrhage and monitor its absorption from day to day. Ultrasound is safe, and there is no ionized radiation. No sedation is required for ultrasound examination. The examination is not painful. CONCLUSION: The frequency of ultrasound depends on the level of hemorrhage, presence or absence of ventriculomegally/hydrocephalus, as well as on the surrounding cerebral parenchyma.