Is neurological assessment of the fetus possible?

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology Vol. 75; no. 1; pp. 81 - 84
• Main Authors: Prechtl, Heinz F.R, Einspieler, Christa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.12.1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Brain Diseases - embryology; Female; Fetal Movement; Fetal movements; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Management. Prenatal diagnosis; Medical sciences; Nervous System - embryology; Neurological assessment; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Neurological assessment; Fetal movements; Human; Evaluation; Motion; Nervous system diseases; Pregnancy disorders; Cerebral disorder; Prenatal; Fetal diseases; Surveillance; Encephalopathy; Central nervous system disease; Fetus; Fetal distress; Behavior; Diagnosis; Monitoring
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-2115(97)00197-8

The possibility to assess the functional condition of the fetal nervous system is of great importance to the obstetrician, since a considerable part of early brain damage is of prenatal origin. Several attempts to develop such a technique are reviewed. In addition, a new method, the qualitative assessment of fetal general movements, is described as a successful tool to obtain reliable data on the fetal brain dysfunction. This new method is robust, non-intrusive and cost-effective. There is also the advantage that the same criteria for the diagnostic assessment can be used for the fetus as well as for the young infant.