Cranial ultrasound screening in term and late preterm neonates born by vacuum-assisted delivery: Is it worthwhile?

Pediatr Neonatol

Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy; Division of Neonatology, "F. Del Ponte" Hospital, Woman and Child Department, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.

Published: January 2023

Background: Vacuum extraction is the most common choice to assist vaginal delivery, but there are still concerns regarding the neonatal injuries it may cause. This study aimed to evaluate the rate of intracranial injuries assessed by cranial ultrasound (cUS) among infants born by vacuum extraction, and the relationship with maternal and perinatal factors.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study carried out in a level-3 neonatal unit. A total of 593 term and late preterm infants born by vacuum-assisted delivery were examined with a cUS scan within 3 days after birth.

Results: Major head injuries were clinically silent and occurred in 2% of the infants, with a rate of intracranial haemorrhage of 1.7%. Regardless of obstetric factors, the risk of cranial injury was increased in infants requiring resuscitation at birth (p = 0.04, OR 4.1), admitted to NICU (p = 0.01, OR 5.5) or with perinatal asphyxia (p < 0.01, OR 21.3). Maternal age ≥40 years correlated both with adverse perinatal outcomes (p < 0.05) and the occurrence of major injury (p = 0.02, OR 4.6).

Conclusion: Overall, vacuum extraction is a safe procedure for neonates. Head injuries are usually mild and asymptomatic, and with spontaneous recovery. However, the rate of major cranial injuries in our cohort warrants further investigation to support a cUS screening, particularly for infants requiring respiratory support at birth. Also, maternal age might be taken into account when evaluating the risk for neonatal complications after vacuum application.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2022.06.010DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

cranial ultrasound
8
term late
8
late preterm
8
born vacuum-assisted
8
vacuum-assisted delivery
8
vacuum extraction
8
rate intracranial
8
infants born
8
ultrasound screening
4
screening term
4

Similar Publications

Importance: Data characterizing the severity and changing prevalence of bone mineral density (BMD) deficits and associated nonfracture consequences among childhood cancer survivors decades after treatment are lacking.

Objective: To evaluate risk for moderate and severe BMD deficits in survivors and to identify long-term consequences of BMD deficits.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study used cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the St Jude Lifetime (SJLIFE) cohort, a retrospectively constructed cohort with prospective follow-up.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Cranial defects from trauma, surgery, or congenital conditions require precise reconstruction to restore cranial vault integrity. Autogenous calvarial grafts are preferred for their histocompatibility and biomechanical properties, but their success depends on a well-developed diploic space. Although prior studies have described overall skull thickness development, less is known about how diploic thickness changes through adulthood.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional prospective study was to evaluate the bone density changes around the bicortical corticobasal implant placed in the maxilla over 18 months of follow-up using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), focusing on the comparison between the anterior and posterior teeth and regions.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five subjects (20, 53.26%, were males, and 15, 46.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A prominent subarachnoid space (SAS) in infants under 24 months is a very common finding and is a normal variant that can be associated with macrocephaly. This must be differentiated from various pathological conditions that also cause a prominent SAS, including a reduction in brain volume, obstruction to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or malformations of the skull. The inappropriate labelling of normal SAS prominence as enlargement due to pathology and misrepresentation of published literature by some author groups has created confusion medicolegally, contributing to inappropriate conclusions that a normal prominent SAS may cause subdural haemorrhage (SDH) and brain injury.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Anatomic Approach to Fetal Hydrocephalus.

Radiographics

February 2025

From the Departments of Radiology and Imaging Sciences (A.M.G., P.J.W., A.M.K.) and Obstetrics and Gynecology (S.E.D.), University of Utah Health, 30 N Mario Capecchi Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84112; and University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah (J.N.C.).

Hydrocephalus is an imprecise term and refers to the imbalance of brain parenchyma and cerebral spinal fluid in the cranial vault. Ventriculomegaly, or enlargement of the ventricular system, is often the more precise term and is therefore preferred. Appropriate imaging and measurement techniques are critical to detect ventriculomegaly and grade its severity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!