Fetal Neurology—Lesson Learned and Future Challenges

JOURNAL TITLE: Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Author
1. Berivoj Miskovic
2. Guillermo Azumendi
3. Asim Kurjak
4. Lara Spalldi
ISSN
0973-614X
DOI
10.5005/jp-journals-10009-1105
Volume
1
Issue
3
Publishing Year
2007
Pages
11
Author Affiliations
    1. Medical School University of Zagreb, Sveti Duh Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
    2. Clinical Hospital Sveti Duh, Zagreb, Croatia
    3. Zagreb, Croatia
    4. Clinical Hospital Sveti Duh, School of Medicine, Zagreb University, Zagreb, Croatia
    1. Clinica Gutenberg, Malaga, Spain
    2. Centro Gutenberg, Malaga, C/ Gutenberg n°1 Malaga
    1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School University of Zagreb, Sveti Duh Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
    1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School University of Zagreb, Sveti Duh Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Article keywords
    Neurobehavioral development, Fetal behavior, Four- dimensional ultrasound

    Abstract

    Neurological failure is the most apprehension complication of pregnancy, labor and the neonatal period. The origin and outcome correlation is frequently doubtful. The arrival of four-dimensional ultrasonography (4D US) and its function to study fetal behavior patterns have initiated to offer insight into the structural and functional fetal brain development. Although many fetal behavioral studies have been conducted, it is still questionable whether the assessment of continuity from fetal to neonatal behavior could improve our ability of early detection of brain pathology. Neurological assessment of fetus in utero is extremely difficult even having such sophisticated equipment like 4D ultrasound. As it is well known that quantity of GMs is not so informative and predictive for neurological impairment, their quality should be assessed. Gestalt perception of premature GMs we are dealing with in utero and several weeks postnatally are not as predictive for the detection of neurologically abnormal fetuses or newborns as fidgety GMs. Therefore some additional parameters should be added to the prenatal neurological examination in order to improve our ability to make the distinction between normal and abnormal fetuses.

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