Neurosonography - what is it and why do it?

Future moms are eagerly awaiting a memorable day for the birth of their baby. Unfortunately, not always everything goes according to plan. In almost 80% of cases, unforeseen problems arise: prolonged labor, weakness of labor, excessively painful attempts, cramping of the baby's umbilical cord and much more. Most often, doctors without complications for the mother and child decide the difficulties that have arisen in the process. One way or another, but if there is evidence, the neonatal neurosonography is assigned to the newborn. What this is, why such a procedure is carried out and what diseases can be detected using it, this article will tell.

What is neurosonography?

In the translation from Greek, the term "neurosonography" refers to the "study of nervous tissue". What is it and what is the purpose of this research? This diagnostic procedure appeared in medical practice relatively recently. It is in the study of the brain of a newborn child with the help of ultrasound for the purpose of preventive examination or according to the testimony of a neonatologist.

Previously, the procedure for studying the brain was prescribed only in rare, life-threatening baby cases. Since such a diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging with the use of anesthetic drugs. Such a technique is dangerous for serious complications and is extremely undesirable for a weakened organism of a newborn.

The advent of ultrasound diagnosis was a real breakthrough and a "lifebuoy" in neonatology. Neurosonography of the infants maximally safely identifies congenital and acquired birth defects of the brain from the first minutes of the baby's life. Such a diagnostic method in a short time led to a significant reduction in the death rate of newborns due to the timely detection of brain pathologies.

The procedure takes no more than 7-10 minutes. In such a short time the doctor can detect serious, often incompatible with life and requiring immediate medical attention pathologies. Although professional analysis requires neurosonography. Decoding indicators - the process is laborious, ambiguous, often requiring additional research and consideration of many external factors.

Indications for use

To recommend the procedure of neurosonography, doctors can both for preventive purposes and for indications. Assign a procedure for ultrasound examination of the brain of newborns under the following conditions:

• Complicated labor, the use of obstetric forceps, preparations for the activation of contractions;
• Birth traumas of the child;
• Birth defects and obvious pathologies;
• Genetic diseases;
• Delivery before the term (prematurity);
• Borne pregnancy;
• When conducting cesarean section;
• In the presence of intrauterine infection;
• If a history of resuscitation of a newborn ;
• With trauma to the skull.

Is neurosonography safe for newborns?

Neurosonography infants - a procedure safe for the child. Ultrasound examination of the brain is absolutely painless, the child does not need preparation and recovery period. Although in medical circles discussions are still held about the complete safety of ultrasonic waves. Opponents of the technique believe that the impact of such procedures manifests a few years later, reducing immunity and causing cancer. But to confirm or deny these statements at the moment is not possible.

In the meantime, neurosonography of the brain is widely practiced in infants, in resuscitation incubators.

Types of Neurosonography

Neurosonography is classified according to the area through which the ultrasound is performed:

1. The most common is the procedure through the large fontanel of the newborn.
2. Through the temporal bone of the skull, ultrasound is performed for older children, whose fontanel is already overgrown.
3. Through the clefts of the skull, which can be formed after trauma or surgical intervention.

It is carried out by any of the above types of neurosonography on the Zenitchikov in St. Petersburg. The clinic is highly qualified and has received positive feedback from patients.

Features of the procedure

The peculiarity of neurosonography is that it is possible to carry out such a procedure only in the crevices of the skull, since ultrasonic waves can not pass through the grown stronger bones. Neurosonography in children is performed quite effectively and has no contraindications.

How is it conducted?

Neurosonography is performed using an ultrasound machine. What is it and what is the principle of the device? The doctor installs the sensor, pre-lubricated with a special gel to remove air bubbles between the surfaces, in the area of the big fontanel of the newborn.

Ultrasonic waves are displayed from the shells, revealing the contours of the brain, intracranial inclusions. The results are displayed on a computer monitor. The doctor, analyzing the picture, makes preliminary conclusions.

Do you need preparation for the procedure?

Neurosonography does not propose special preparation. But doctors recommend feeding the baby before the procedure so that the child is calm, and the doctor had the opportunity to conduct the procedure effectively.

Neurosonography: interpretation of indicators

Only an expert can decipher the obtained results, since, analyzing the indicators, it is necessary to take into account other external factors, for example, anamnesis, the weight of the child, and others. In addition, it should be noted that almost 70% of newborns show slight deviations in the development of the brain. But within a year such indicators independently come back to normal and do not entail any negative consequences for the health of the baby. Therefore, in some cases, when analyzing the results, there is a need for early medical involvement, in others - only regular monitoring.

After the procedure the doctor of the ultrasound diagnosis cabinet inserts the data into the medical protocol. In a standard document, indicators such as the structure of the hemispheres and the cerebellum, the presence or absence of neoplasms, intracranial fluid, developmental pathologies are indicated.

Norms and deviations of indicators

It requires special medical knowledge to analyze the results of such a procedure as neurosonography. Decoding of the indicators is unacceptable. Parents of the baby can understand only the conclusion of the doctor "pathologies are not found." Such a record indicates that there is no reason for concern - all indicators are within the norm.

In the absence of any pathology from the brain of a newborn, physicians fix the symmetry of the hemispheres and ventricles, a clear expression of the furrows and gyri, the absence of tumors, fluid inclusions.

Deviations are any indicators that differ from those mentioned above. Thus, pathology is the detection of echogenic inclusions, dilated furrows or interhemispheric fissure, asymmetry, displacement of structures.

Establishing diagnosis

Based on the indications of neurosonography, the doctor can not deliver the final diagnosis. If any deviations are detected, additional studies and necessary tests are assigned.

Based on the results of ultrasound diagnosis, a doctor may suspect cerebral cysts, ischemic disease, infection, cerebral palsy, intracranial trauma and inflammatory processes.

Where is the procedure performed?

Where to make a neurosonography? The procedure is carried out in almost every major perinatal center. In insurance cases, such diagnostics will be conducted free of charge. For the prevention of ultrasound is carried out on a fee basis.

Neurosonography is also performed in private clinics. But here it is worth paying attention to the fact that in many cases doctors do not recommend the transportation of an impaired labor or disease of a newborn. In addition, in difficult situations, every minute, as they say, on the account - there is simply no time to transport the child to another clinic. Therefore, in the presence of medical indications, experts recommend that parents agree to carry out neurosonography directly in the maternity hospital.

In the case of a preventive examination, you can choose a private clinic, since the cost of the procedure is not much different from the price of neurosonography in a public medical institution, but equipment with modern equipment is more characteristic of private hospitals.

The cost of neurosonography

It is worth the procedure of neurosonography on average 1000-3000 rubles, depending on the model of the ultrasound device used and the price policy of the clinic. In addition, private hospitals offer an additional procedure - dopplerography, which will help analyze the blood supply to the brain, detect clogged vessels, and other blood flow disorders. In this case, the cost of neurosonography will have to pay another 200-500 rubles.

Neurosonography in St. Petersburg. Reviews

Neurosonography Center at Zenitchikov House 3, Building 2 is the most famous clinic in St. Petersburg. This medical institution differs by the regular introduction of innovative methods. So, for example, the specialists of the clinic conduct not only a standard neurosonography, but also a three-dimensional one.

The following medical institutions have won the trust:

1. Diagnostic Center "Energo", which is located at: Leninsky Prospect, 160. The cost of neurosonography in this institution is 1200 rubles. The patients' testimonies indicate the quality and timely provision of medical services.
2. Multidisciplinary medical center "MSCh 15". His address: st. Varshavskaya, 100. The price of the procedure in the center is only 1000 rubles. Reviews about this institution are ambiguous. It is noted that administrative work is not enough.
3. Center "Ultrasound XXI century" (ul Olkhovaya, 6/289) offers a standard and three-dimensional neurosonography. The equipment of the company of high quality from world manufacturers of medical equipment. The cost of the procedure is from 1200 to 2500 rubles.

In this article, we have uncovered the essence of the term "neurosonography": what it is, in what cases and for what it is carried out. Do not neglect the doctor's recommendations and refuse this type of diagnosis. This simple, painless and safe procedure will help to detect the pathology of the child's brain and with the timely medical help to save the baby's life.