Value of Transcranial Ultrasound Screening for the Preterm in the Neonatal ICU

Abstract

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. It has the strong advantage of being portable and can be performed bedside. The disadvantage of being operator dependent which can be solved by proper training of the sonographers and radiologists. Preterms screening study was performed in the neonatal ICU over a period of 9 months.