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[A study of the evolution of ventricular dilatations using transfontanellar ultrasonography]
A J Bazán-Camacho1, E García-Almeida, M L Jiménez-Valdés
1Departamento de Ultrasonido Diagnóstico, Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital Materno Infantil 10 de Octubre Hijas de Galicia, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba. abcbros@infomed.sld.cu
Insights
Ventricular dilatations in newborns often resolve or stabilize, especially with early diagnosis and care. Ultrasonic encephalography is key for monitoring these neurological conditions in infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Pediatric neuroimaging
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Ventricular dilatations, including hydrocephalus in newborns, pose significant risks to neurological integrity.
- These conditions are a major concern for clinicians due to potential long-term neurological deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To track the progression of ventricular dilatations in infants during their early years.
- To develop methods for prospectively estimating changes in ventricular measurements for this condition.
Main Methods:
- Transfontanellar ultrasonography was used to measure ventricular systems in infants with ventricular dilatations.
- Follow-up protocols were established based on dilatation severity, clinical progression, and psychomotor development.
- Data underwent descriptive statistical and mathematical analysis.
Main Results:
- Over 85% of ventricular dilatations showed remission or no change post-diagnosis.
- Standardized normal values for neonatal brain morphometry are lacking, hindering classification of ventriculomegalies.
- Asymmetrical brain development is characteristic; no single measurement reliably predicts outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasonic encephalography is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring ventriculomegalies.
- Approximately 60% of cases achieve remission with early diagnosis and appropriate medical intervention.
Introduction:
Ventricular dilatations, especially hydrocephalus in the newborn infants, are neurological complications and sequelae dreaded by the clinician because of their effects on the neurological integrity of the future individual.
Aims:
Our aim was to describe the evolution of ventricular dilatations during the first years of life, as well as how to carry out a prospective estimate of the changes in the ventricular measurements for this disease.
Patients And Methods:
The ventricular systems of infants born with ventricular dilatations of any intensity between September 1992 and December 2002 at the Hospital Materno Infantil 10 de Octubre were measured using transfontanellar ultrasonography, and we established a type of follow-up according to the dilatation and the clinical progression and psychomotor development. All measurements were processed and submitted to a descriptive statistical analysis and to mathematical analysis for the case of the behaviour of each cut.
Results:
85.49% of the ventricular dilatations progressed toward remission or did not change after diagnosis. It was not possible to estimate values for the classification of the ventriculomegalies because the normal values for these structures in neonatal brain morphometry are not standardised. Brain symmetry does not exist in this disease and none of the cuts of the procedure can behave as prescriptors by themselves.
Conclusions:
Ultrasonic encephalography plays a valuable role in the diagnosis and follow-up of ventriculomegalies, which progress towards remission in 60% of cases provided that diagnosis is early and suitable medical attention is provided.
