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

Abstract

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.