ANTERIOR FONTANEL ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN PRETERM

Abstract

This study is a hospital based cross sectional study carried out upon 90 preterm infants admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care unit in Tikrit Teaching Hospital through the period from the 1st of February to the end of May 2008, their gestational ages were ranged from 28 – 36 weeks and their body weights were range from 800 – 2300g.The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of anterior fontanel ultrasonography in preterm infants, using special questionnaire, a physical examination was conducted and all preterms were sent for cranial ultrasound examination through the anterior fontanel .The frequency of intracranial findings was (30%), (7.40%) had germinal matrix hemorrhage, (51.86%) had intraventricular hemorrhage, (11.11%) had periventricular leukomalacia and 29.63% had ventricnlomegaly, (75%) of gestational ages 28 – 30 weeks, (47. 61%) of 31 – 33 weeks and and (9.44%) of 34 – 36 weeks, (48.14%) of body weights 800 – 1300 g, (47.37%) of 1300 – 1800g and (11.37%) of 1800 – 2300g.Case fatality rate among preterms with intracranial findings was (40.75%).