My discussion today will center around the role ultrasound and MRI plays in your baby’s HIE brain injury at birth. MRI and ultrasound are important tools that doctors, and medical professionals use to have a better understanding of a traumatic brain injury. Although MRI is the gold standard, ultrasound is critical in determining the status of the infant brain.
If your baby has a suspected brain injury at birth, be sure to speak with the medical professionals regarding the imaging. Understanding what area or areas of the brain have been impacted by the injury can help families understand some of their baby’s challenges in the future.
The Role Ultrasound And MRI Plays In Your Baby’s HIE Brain Injury At Birth
As I said above, MRI is the gold standard versus ultrasound, but that does not mean that ultrasound is useless. Although MRI is used and has widespread acceptance, ultrasound is the primary screening tool for evaluation of the neonatal brain. Cranial ultrasound is non-invasive, inexpensive, and portable imaging allows examinations to be performed without requiring transport of the baby.
When it comes to cranial ultrasound and a baby having a hypoxic ischemic injury, certain characteristics can be seen on ultrasound. One of the areas that may show up on ultrasound is whether there are slit like ventricles. Readings such as these can give medical professionals a better understanding as to what is happening with the brain.
As with any imaging professional, the more skilled the reader, the more detailed the readings of the imaging will be reported.
MRI is the gold standard because it can provide more details in the imaging versus ultrasound. If hypothermia cooling is being used MRI technology can be extremely important to understand not only what is happening with the brain before the cooling but also what does the brain look like subsequent to the cooling.
In the context of hypothermia cooling remember that this is a treatment that is not a cure for a hypoxic brain injury. The main goal of hypothermia cooling is to help slow down the spread of the swelling and injury to the brain.
Hopefully, now you have a better understanding of the role ultrasound and MRI plays in your babies HIE brain injury at birth. If you have more questions about why your baby has suffered this type of brain injury, you can contact me at my information below. Remember, it does not cost you any money to talk with me initially about your baby’s story.
Marcus B. Boston, Esq.
9701 Apollo Dr. Suite 100
Largo, Maryland 20774
301-850-4832
1-833-4 BABY HELP
