Cerebral ischemia is a serious diseasewhich is characterized by the fact that there is not enough oxygen in the brain along with blood. The reason for it is the blockage of one or several vessels. For this reason, the baby cannot properly form a brain. If no measures are taken in a timely manner, the consequences could be much more serious than it seems at first glance. It is timely visit to the doctor and properly selected treatment of cerebral ischemia in newborns will help to avoid serious and irreversible consequences.
How is the development of ischemia?
Oxygen that enters with bloodevery cell of the body is vital for the proper functioning of every organ and system. If its content is reduced, then redistribution of blood through the organs occurs. The brain and the heart receive a large share of oxygen, while other cells and tissues are starving.
If asphyxia continues for a long periodtime, then for the functioning of the nerve cells of the compression abilities are not enough. As a result, they begin to die. As a result, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy appears. The more tissues suffered, the worse the prognosis for the patient. In rare cases, cerebral ischemia in newborns can cause cerebral hemorrhage, which increases the risk of adverse outcome.
Causes of ischemia in newborns
The main cause of ischemia in babies isimpaired blood flow in the placenta. As the statistics showed, this diagnosis is given to babies born to mothers who are less than 20 years old and over 35. It is also observed in infants of women, in the history of which there are records of chronic ailments (hypertension and diabetes are particularly dangerous), or in those in the period of gestation the fetus had infections in acute form. In a healthy woman, risk factors include:
- preeclampsia is a form of late toxicosis that causes swelling and high blood pressure;
- replanting, during this period the placenta is aging, therefore, the amount of food for the baby is reduced, or short maintenance occurs;
- cord entanglement or clamping - in the womb or during childbirth;
- rapid or prolonged childbirth.
Rapid labor causes cerebral ischemia innewborns because the baby is not yet ready to take the first independent breath. But prolonged labor leads to the fact that the fetus does not leave the uterus for a long time, is unable to begin to breathe on its own, and the connection with the womb has already been interrupted. In this case, ischemia causes a combination of asphyxia and hypoxia, to put it more simply, mechanical asphyxiation.
The degree of ischemia and symptoms
Cerebral ischemia of the newborn is divided intoseveral degrees. Thanks to this classification, it is easier for doctors to determine how serious the condition of the infant is, and what measures in each particular case are best to take.
Cerebral ischemia 1 degree
This is a mild form, which is characterized by mild signs in the first five days after birth. It appears as:
- nervous depression and arousal;
- small muscle tone;
- gain tendon reflexes.
The doctor is constantly watching the child, the symptoms go away without complications.
Second degree ischemia
This is a serious form of the disease, which is accompanied by such signs:
- frequent stops in breathing, especially during sleep;
- reduced sucking reflex;
- weak muscle tone;
- increase in head due to fluid accumulated in it;
- coordination disorders;
- loss of consciousness;
- discoloration of the skin.
In most cases, this disease is manifested inthe first day after the birth of the baby, and the symptoms may persist for a month. During this period, he is observed by specialists, and he is undergoing treatment. If necessary, we recommend surgery to remove a blood clot.
Cerebral ischemia grade 3 in newborns
This is one of the hardest forms, during which:
- the newborn has no reflexes;
- the baby has a coma;
- heartbeat malfunctions;
- blood pressure rises sharply;
- there are problems in the respiratory system;
- strabismus is observed.
An experienced specialist after the birth of the baby will be able to determine the signs of the disease. The newborn is immediately sent to the intensive care unit, if necessary, it is connected to the lung ventilation apparatus.
Clinical manifestations of ischemia in infants
Clinic manifestations of ischemia in newborns is expressed by a number of symptoms, which according to the degree of manifestation are divided into three main degrees.
Mild has the following clinic:
- The behavior of the baby is changing: crying, lethargy, drowsiness, and no appetite.
- Muscle tone increased.
- Slightly increased tendon reflexes.
- The state is normalized for three days.
In premature babies, on the contrary, muscle tone and reflexes are reduced.
With a moderate degree, the clinic looks like this:
- Reduced muscle tone.
- Tendon reflexes lowered.
- The sluggish or complete absence of sucking and prehensile reflexes, the reduced Moro reflex — while the baby’s head is thrown over, the handles are also raised.
- Respiratory failure, frequent long pauses in breathing.
- The appearance of all the symptoms described in the first days after birth.
If the condition of the infant is normalized within two weeks, then cerebral cerebral ischemia in the newborn will not be harmful.
Severe manifested by such a clinic:
- Coma or stupor.
- The need to use artificial respiration because the respiratory function suffers greatly.
- A sharp decrease in muscle tone and reflexes.
- Complete lack of reflexes.
- Disorders of the eye reflexes: squint, uncoordinated movement of the eyeballs.
- Convulsions.
- Low blood pressure and heart rhythm disturbances.
Исходя из этого, при 1 и 2 степени церебральной Ischemia in the newborn occurs functional neurological disorders, and they are reversible. If the right approach to this issue, the treatment will bring positive results.
Severe damage to the baby can be organic.
Diagnostic methods for ischemia
Most often, the first signs of cerebral ischemia in newborns can be determined by visual inspection. But in some cases other methods will be required:
- Estimated overall condition of the baby.Immediately after birth, vital reflexes are tested on the Apgar scale. If there are alarming moments, then the baby is left under close supervision of doctors, as his condition may worsen with every minute, even after a short-term normalization.
- Laboratory tests are assigned to help evaluate how the internal organs and body systems work.
- MRI is prescribed in the most severe cases when it is necessary to determine how seriously the brain is damaged.
- Electroencephalography helps to determineecho signs of cerebral ischemia in newborns. It makes it possible to accurately set the degree of the disease, after which it is easier to choose a treatment that will help the child to cure the pathology without consequences.
Treatment
The main goal of treating cerebral ischemia in newborns of the first degree is to restore blood flow and create normal conditions for the work of damaged cells.
With a mild degree is not required to use drugs It is enough to undergo a course of therapeutic massage, and this will be enough to restore the body functions.
Medium and severe forms require treatment inhospital In severe form, the baby is sent to intensive care. For each newborn, individual therapy is selected depending on its clinical manifestations. Subsequently throughout the year he needs rehabilitation.
There is no special therapy that would help restore the brain cells affected by the lack of oxygen. However, there are a number of drugs that can help:
- tonic and diuretics;
- anticonvulsants, for example, Phenobarbital, are used to stop the convulsions; this solution does not allow the brain to be damaged further;
- means are introduced that have a positive effect on heart function: "Dopamine" or "Dobutamine";
- At present, hypothermia is actively used, the baby is lowered in body temperature by a few degrees, thanks to which it is possible to prevent further development of necrosis of the brain tissue.
But there are drugs that are not recommended.use to treat neonates with ischemia. Parents, having seen the child’s symptoms of the disease, begin to ask their friends and prescribe drugs to their children, without thinking about the consequences. Cerebral ischemia 1 degree in newborns does not generally involve the use of any drugs, especially such:
- vascular agents;
- nootropics;
- homeopathic remedies;
- herbal remedies such as motherwort or valerian.
The safety of these drugs for the newborn is not proven. It is not known how the body will react to them, therefore, in order not to provoke complications, it is better not to use them.
The role of massage in the treatment of ischemia in newborns
The first degree of cerebral ischemia in newborns (reviews of doctors confirm this fact) is treated mainly with massage. After all, it has a beneficial effect on muscle tone and overall well-being of the child.
Independently do therapeutic massage in no waythe case can not be trusted better specialist. The best effect will be if you massage 4 times in the first year of life. The interval between courses must be at least 3 months. Medical massage helps:
- relax the nervous system;
- improve muscle tone;
- improve the overall condition of the baby.
That is why it is better to entrust the massage to a professional, and complete a full course.
Consequences and prognosis
If treatment is started on time, then cerebralischemia 3 degrees in newborns will not cause consequences, most of these young patients live a full life. Some children have consequences, but they are relatively safe for their lives: rapid fatigue, poor memory, danger of seizures at high temperatures. With focal atrophy of individual parts of the brain, the consequences are much more dangerous. But, as practice shows, the most common effects of ischemia are such symptoms:
- frequent headaches;
- sleep disturbance, irritability;
- inability to concentrate;
- epilepsy;
- mental retardation;
- deviations in the mental state.
В самых тяжелых случаях у детей после ишемии cerebral palsy may develop. But while the child grows, his nerve cells continue to divide, so with timely and proper treatment, the consequences disappear or significantly weaken.
Prevention of neonatal ischemia during pregnancy
For women who are at risk,prevent a serious condition even while carrying a baby. To do this, it is necessary throughout the pregnancy to follow simple rules:
- rest, move and make daily walks in the fresh air as much as possible;
- give up all bad habits;
- try to avoid excitement and stressful situations;
- look to the future with a positive;
- eat right, including in the diet as much as possible vitamins and minerals;
- observe the day regimen, fully sleep and get enough sleep;
- follow all doctor's recommendations;
- timely take all recommended tests and undergo ultrasound.
Also, prevention can be attributed to thoroughplanning a pregnancy when a woman and a man are ready to become parents. Before these two partners need to undergo a thorough examination to identify the pathology initially and cure it.
Cerebral ischemia in newborns: reviews
Cerebral ischemia is a serious diseasewhich may harm a child's fragile body. Therefore, it is very important to recognize the symptoms in time and start the correct treatment. In the responses of doctors and parents who had to deal with this ailment, they say that children who have undergone a course of treatment live a full life, and do not recall anything that he had to endure in the first days of his life.
Doctors keep statistics and know for sure that a largesome of the children after such a disease feel great, play sports. Even those who have been given severe form forget about treatment in a few years.
