Transcranial Sonographic Evaluation of Preterm Neonates Presenting with Seizures and Its Association with Intracranial Abnormalities

• Published in: Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan Vol. 33; no. 9; pp. 1073 - 1075
• Main Authors: Saleem, Zobia, Bacha, Raham, Hameed, Summan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Causes of; Health aspects; Infants (Premature); Nervous system; Pediatric research; Seizures (Medicine); Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography; Pakistan
• ISSN: 1022-386X; 1681-7168
• DOI: 10.29271/jcpsp.2023.09.1073

This study aimed to determine the association of intracranial abnormalities through transcranial ultrasound in preterm neonates having seizures and to analyse them with preterm classes. It was a cross-sectional analytical study at the Radiology Department of Shalamar Hospital, Lahore. This study observed a total of 103 pretermers with a history of seizures through transcranial ultrasound. These pretermers were classified into three classes according to their gestational age. Abnormal cranial scans were found in 42 (40.8%) preterm infants, with ventriculomegaly and intracranial haemorrhage more common in 18.4% and 17.5% of neonates. The p-values for intracranial haemorrhage in classes I, II, and III were 0.016, 0.001, and <0.001, respectively, while ventriculomegaly in preterm classes II and III was 0.003 and <0.001, respectively. In all preterm categories, intracranial haemorrhage was found to be the most likely cause of seizures, which tended to increase with decreasing gestational age. However, ventriculomegaly was identified as a significant cause of seizures in preterm classes II and III but not in class I. Key Words: Cranial ultrasound, Preterm, Seizures.