Ultrasonographic Evaluation of the Neonatal Brain in Cases of Birth Asphyxia

INTRODUCTION The manifestations of hypoxic and ischemic injury to the brain in a developing foetus in utero or during the birth process consist of a pattern of abnormal neurological signs occurring in sequence over a period of the first few days of life. This is known as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) [1]. HIE occurs in about 25% infants following severe birth asphyxia [2]. A clinical staging system has been described in the Sarnat staging system [3] [Table/Fig-1]. A clinical diagnosis of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy automatically initiates a search for the anatomical location and extent of the brain lesions and a follow up of their progress over the next few weeks. This helps the clinician to formulate a line of management for the affected neonate and form some idea of the short and long term prognosis for the affected child.