Role of cranial usg in term neonates with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy and its co-relaton with neurodevelopmental outcome

Background: Perinatal asphyxia leading to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is still leading cause of infant and under-five mortality and significant morbidity in developing countries. Cranial USG is a sensitive, cheap and non invasive tool for early diagnosis of HIE and persistence of these lesion on serial USG can be correlated with subsequent neuro-developmental outcome. Method: This prospective observational study was conducted in SNCU and NICU of a tertiary care hospital of India on term neonates with perinatal asphyxia. Results: 72% babies on day 3, 60% of babies on day 7 and 44% babies on 6 weeks of life had some changes in USG Brain. Most of the babies with definite USG changes had stage 3 (Sarnat & Sarnat) stage of HIE. Among 72% , having early abnormal USG findings, 64% were found to have abnormal neurological findings in Amiel-Tison scale and 56% in TDSC developmental scale on follow up at 6 weeks. Conclusion: Cranial Ultrasonography specially in early stage have role in detecting lesions and correlating with subsequent neurodevelopmental outcome which will help in early diagnosis and early intervention in neurologically cripple child.