MAIN FINDINGS IN TRANSFONTANELLAR ULTRASOUND IN PREMATURE NEWBORNS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Transfontanellar ultrasonography (TFUS) is an important tool for cranial pathologies of newborns (NBs), which allows the design and evolutionary control of injuries. Knowing the main findings and correlating them with gestational age and birth weight is important to outline the best approaches. OBJECTIVE: Identify the main lesions found in TFUS of premature newborns in the ICU. METHODS: Cross-sectional quantitative and retrospective study, developed in an intensive care unit (ICU) in Goiânia-GO. RESULTS: 150 records of NBs who underwent transfontanellar ultrasonography (TFUS) admitted to the ICU were analyzed, with 36 NBs (24%) showing changes. The maternal profile was of young women, without risk factors, multiparous, with seven prenatal consultations, with vaginal delivery. Urinary tract infection was the most prevalent (41%). For NBs, there is a predominance of males (58%), extremely premature infants with gestational age <27 weeks occurred in 19 fetuses (51%), first-minute Apgar less than 7 (72%) and fifth-minute Apgar greater than 8 (78%). The majority (97%) had adequate weight for gestational age, below 2,500g though. The main alteration found was hemorrhage (91%) and grade II the most prevalent (43%). The average length of stay in the unit was 50 days and the death rate in this group was 11 newborns (31%) and the main TFUS change recorded in the death group was grade III hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: 150 exams were performed, 76% of which were normal and 24% abnormal, the main alteration found was hemorrhage 91%, with grade II being the most prevalent with 43%. In the group that died, the main change in the TFUS was grade III hemorrhage.