Often, doctors even in the hospital reveal that the lateral ventricles of the brain in the baby are enlarged. However, this does not mean at all that the baby urgently needs serious treatment. What does this mean, what threatens and most importantly - what to do? The consequences of enlarged ventricles of the brain in the baby can be severe. About it further.
Structure
The ventricles of the children's brain are interconnected collectors where cerebrospinal fluid forms. Large cavities are combined, and they are located on the sides. The lateral ventricles are connected by a special system of small holes. There is also a distal brain with an enlarged fourth ventricle.
While ensuring the functioning of the ventricles, the cerebrospinal fluid can freely penetrate into the middle of the subarachnoid space. This zone is located at the borders of the arachnoid and dura mater of the brain, preserving the optimal volume of fluid, even with a possible pathological condition.
Usually in newborns it is determined that the lateral ventricles of the brain are enlarged. In this case, the horn of the ventricles increases, fluid accumulation may occur, and the cerebral ventricles also increase. High-quality diagnostics help to eliminate the asymmetric arrangement of brain collectors.
Etiology and pathogenesis
In medicine, an increase in these parts of the brain, doctors call ventriculomegaly. It doesn’t matter at all what led to this phenomenon, the apparent asymmetry will cause the greatest concern. With a symmetrical increase, the expansion can be considered quite normal or it can be a sign of hydrocephalus, which appeared for certain reasons.
But with asymmetric or disproportionate sizes of the ventricles, we can talk about a rather voluminous formation in size, as well as the results of a possible injury. Parents in this situation need to immediately go with the baby to an urgent appointment with a neurosurgeon, since without proper treatment the consequences will be quite unpredictable. But sometimes a mild degree of asymmetry of the children's ventricles of the brain is considered quite normal. If the size of the ventricles near the Monroe hole differ by no more than 2 mm, they do not talk about the pathological condition. The main thing is to timely and very carefully monitor the condition of the child.
Causes
Immediately after birth, dilated symmetric ventricles are found in prematurely born babies. It is noteworthy that symptoms of intracranial enlargement of the ventricles are usually not observed. But if an increase in the horns is revealed, we can talk about a certain pathology.
The ventricles of the brain can increase in infants for the following reasons:
- A fall or injury to the head, which contributes to a disturbed outflow of cerebrospinal fluid, which begins to stagnate in the stomachs, as a result of which the child begins to manifest symptoms of excessive intracranial pressure.
- Hypoxia of the fetus, placental insufficiency and a defective structure of the placenta. As a result of such conditions, the blood supply to the fetal brain is disrupted, which contributes to the expansion of collectors inside the skull.
- Bacterial infection of a pregnant woman, since microorganisms freely enter the fetus through the placenta, causing various complications.
- Pathological birth. Damage and injuries during childbirth can cause a disturbed supply of blood to the brain of the child, leading to increased expansion of the ventricles.
- Oncological formations in the brain. Excessive tumor growth causes increased pressure on the internal structures of the children's brain, which causes its pathological increase.
- Lingering labor. If a lot of time passes between the moment of water discharge and childbirth, intrapartum hypoxia and a violation of the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles can develop.
- Infectious diseases penetrating the blood-brain barrier, brain pathological formations can form.
Other reasons
Dilation in newborn ventricles is said to be when, according to the results of neurosonography, the front horns in diameter at the Monroe opening become more than 5 mm. The causes of this condition may be acquired or congenital. The last category includes:
- acute fetal hypoxia in the womb;
- severe pregnancy and difficult, premature birth;
- septic complications in a child;
- birth injury;
- a special place is occupied by subarachnoid and subdural bleeding;
- excessive asymmetry occurs due to increased blood volume, causing compression of a certain ventricle of the brain;
- malformations;
- intrauterine infections;
- extragenital pathology of a pregnant woman.
There are also acquired reasons:
- hydrocephalus;
- hemangiomas, cysts and brain tumors.
Neurosurgeons pay special attention to hydrocephalus of the newborn. In the structure of the brain with such a disease, a lot of cerebrospinal fluid accumulates, which provokes the appearance of cerebral symptoms and can cause rather complex conditions.
Hydrocephalus increases the cerebrospinal fluid cavities, maintaining a constant size for a long time. But after a period of decompensation due to a sudden jump in intracranial pressure, the specialist begins to notice the expansion of the ventricles of the brain in the baby.
Symptoms of manifestation
Not in every situation, the expansion of the ventricles of the brain becomes the cause of the development of adverse symptoms. Usually the child does not feel much discomfort, which accurately indicates the development of a rather complex pathology. But with more pronounced disorders, the following adverse manifestations may occur in an infant:
- Visual disturbances, manifested in the form of impaired gaze focusing or strabismus. Sometimes a child can observe double vision in his eyes, and this condition intensifies during the examination of small objects.
- Disturbed gait: the child gets on his heels or walks on his fingers.
- Disproportionate head.
- Behavioral disorders: a small patient becomes drowsy and lethargic, even somewhat apathetic, it is difficult for him to get carried away with recreational activities.
- Change in muscle tone, revitalization of tendon reflexes.
- Dizziness and pain in the head.
- Vomiting may develop.
- Swelling, tension and an increase in fontanelles in linear dimensions.
- Optic nerve congestion.
- Decreased appetite: the newborn usually eats poorly, he has increased spitting up. High cerebrospinal fluid pressure may affect the emetic center, which is located at the bottom of the rhomboid fossa.
- Decreased sucking and swallowing reflexes.
- Disturbed sleep: it is difficult for a child to fall asleep, in a dream he can walk.
- Pronounced veins in the forehead, which provokes a difficult outflow of blood from the head.
Are the ventricles of the brain enlarged in the baby? Such a pathology has a different severity during its course. If the initial symptoms are detected, a mild course of the disease is noted. If the baby has the above symptoms, which indicate a high pressure inside the head, the ailment can become more severe. With a general deterioration in the condition of the baby, it is recommended to carry out rather severe treatment, necessarily in a hospital.
It is important to understand that all of the above symptoms do not necessarily indicate the development of an increase in the brain. A slight increase in these structures and their slight asymmetry, changes in the fundus, and the presence of reflexes may not disturb parents at all. The main thing is to constantly monitor the condition of the baby and regularly perform neurosonography.
Diagnosis of this condition
To determine what exact sizes the ventricles have, doctors prescribe the following informative methods:
- Computed tomography makes it possible to identify the size of the ventricles, as well as their structure. This procedure does not cause any inconvenience to the newborn and does not harm him.
- An ultrasound examines the size and quantity of the ventricles of the brain, and also calculates their index. This method helps to estimate the available volume of cerebrospinal fluid in the collectors of the brain.
- Magnetic resonance imaging is used if the diagnosis is quite difficult to establish. This procedure is performed for older children. But for young children, MRI, if the ventricles of the brain in the baby are enlarged, is performed after they are put into anesthesia sleep.
- Neurosonography
- Examination of the bottom of the eyes.
After complete closure and narrowing of the fontanelles, the doctor begins to monitor the change in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, performing MRI and CT. Magnetic resonance imaging describes the soft tissue structures of the brain to the fullest extent possible, but, as noted above, you need to lie in the ring of the device for quite a long time, and it will be very difficult for a small child. It is also worth remembering that there are some contraindications for this procedure.
In such a situation, computed tomography, which quickly determines the size of the ventricles, will be very effective. But it is worthwhile to understand that tomography has a small radiation load on the newborn, and the quality of information will be less.
Are the ventricles of the brain enlarged in the baby? This could be caused by subarachnoid or subdural hemorrhage. In this case, an MRI will detect excessive accumulation of blood. Usually, pathological dilatation of the brain begins with horns on the back of the head. For their examination, screening methods are used - neurosonography, or ultrasound through the fontanel to determine the size of the ventricles and brain. In case of insufficiently good consideration of the ventricles, one can judge their increase. But to make this diagnosis, you need to see them more clearly.
Do I need to be treated?
The ventricles of the brain in the baby are enlarged. The issue of treatment is often of interest to alarmed parents, since pathology can be quite dangerous. And yet, if the baby does not have obvious clinical manifestations of the disease, if it develops quite normally, it is not necessary to prescribe special therapy.
Increased 3 ventricle of the brain in infants? Pathology is treated with a well-established excessive increase in fluid pressure. Indirectly, it is possible to determine by performing tomography, and a direct study is performed using an extreme measure - lumbar puncture. Basically, these procedures are performed when detecting meningitis, which, incidentally, usually does not cause an increase in the ventricles of the brain in size.
Disease treatment
The treatment process of this pathological condition is monitored by a neurologist. If this condition is caused by the effects of cranial or brain injuries, as well as volume formations, a pediatric neurosurgeon can join the therapy.
To eliminate the fact that the ventricle of the brain is enlarged in a newborn, the following treatment methods are used:
- Nootropic drugs are prescribed to improve brain function and better blood vessels.
- Diuretic drugs reduce intracranial pressure, normalize the formation of cerebrospinal fluid, and also improve the overall well-being of the child.
- Sedative medications eliminate the increased anxiety of the newborn.
- Multivitamin complexes compensate for all trace elements that are involved in fairly important processes. Multivitamins strengthen the body and improve the body's resistance to illness.
- Potassium preparations have a positive effect on the process of urine excretion, reduces the amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.
- Massage reduces muscle tone and relaxes the nervous system. Special exercises will normalize the outflow of excessive fluid, preventing its stagnation.
- Antiviral and antibacterial agents are prescribed if there are certain indications and use them if the disease is caused by bacteria or viruses. They are usually prescribed in courses.
- Surgical treatment is performed with volumetric formations and to eliminate existing bone fragments after a fracture.
Forecast
Are the ventricles of the brain enlarged in a child? If the pathology is cured in time, the disease will have a favorable prognosis. Symptoms of ventriculomegaly quickly disappear, not bothering the child in the future. Normalization of intracranial pressure occurs.
Older children suffer this condition somewhat more difficult. A prolonged course of the disease without effective treatment can lead to the development of hearing impairment, as well as vision. With untimely initiation of therapy, persistent violations are usually detected in the baby, which, undoubtedly, negatively affect the further development of the child. As you can see, the consequences of enlarged ventricles of the brain in infants are completely different.
Total
It is important to note that, according to doctors, due to heredity, the left ventricle of the brain in the baby can be increased. The asymptomatic increase that occurs in infants can be transmitted from parents, and they may not be aware of such an important feature of their body. In this case, we are talking about a balance at the borders of the norm.
Parents should be calm: the very presence of enlarged ventricles of the brain in the fetus or baby does not mean the development of a serious illness. The diagnosis should not be considered a signed "sentence."