Ultrasound of the blood vessels in the child’s head and neck. What does the bridle of the vessels of the head and neck show and how is it done in a child and an adult? Indications for ultrasound of a child’s head after one year

Ultrasound (including examination of the vessels of the head and neck) is a comfortable and short-term procedure. It does not require being in a dark room or wearing a lot of sensors. Virtually no preparation is required and does not cause immediate or long-term consequences.

Each of the variations of ultrasound (Doppler, duplex and triplex scanning) can be prescribed to children of any age. The primary option for studying blood vessels is ultrasound Dopplerography/Doppler ultrasound.

Application of Doppler

Doppler ultrasound is used in pediatrics no less often and with no less success than in general therapeutic practice. Dopplerography allows you to study the quality of blood flow:

• along the great vessels of the upper and lower extremities;
• along the arteries of the circle of Willis, which provide blood supply to the brain, tissues of the head and shoulder girdle;
• along the aorta;
• through large vessels supplying blood to internal organs.

Disruption of blood flow caused by a change in the patency (stenosis/occlusion/inflammation/tumor) of any artery or vein leads to a functional or organic change in the organ and system it serves. One of the most common blood flow disorders in childhood affects the arteries and veins that provide blood inflow/outflow to the brain structures, tissues of the neck and shoulder girdle.

Indications for ultrasound diagnostics of cerebral vessels in children under one year of age

The ultrasound procedure is prescribed to newborns from the first days of life, starting from the maternity hospital. In the maternity hospital, in general, neurosonography is prescribed, which, if indicated, can be supplemented with Doppler ultrasound. Indications for ultrasound examination of children under one year of age are:

• after an intrauterine infection;
• difficult childbirth, accompanied by the use of various means of obstetric aid (including vacuum forceps);
• prematurity;
• suspicion of ICP;
• suspicion of abnormalities in the development of arteries (congenital aneurysm, excessive tortuosity);
• severe intrauterine or postpartum hypoxia (asphyxia);
• fainting conditions;
• injuries received during childbirth;
• suspicion of intracranial hemorrhage;
• vascular pathologies of an inflammatory nature;
• overweight and diabetes as risk factors.

In pediatric science, there is an opinion that the procedure for ultrasound diagnostics of arteries and veins of the brain under the age of one year should be performed on all children, regardless of the presence of indications, as a preventive measure to identify severe vascular pathology. Thanks to timely diagnosis, doctors can not only identify, but also begin to correct congenital pathologies of the vascular bed (if possible) as early as possible. There are a number of diseases that are easily corrected before the age of one year, but are difficult to treat after one year. Without timely diagnosis, you can miss a serious pathology, such as developing hydrocephalus or the first signs of cerebral palsy.

Doppler measurements of a child’s blood vessels after one year

After the large fontanelle has overgrown, neurosonography cannot be performed. But an ultrasound may be necessary for the baby even after one year. Therefore, children undergo Dopplerography of intra- and extranial vessels of the head and neck in combination with duplex scanning (USD) or as an independent technique. A referral for an ultrasound is issued by a neurologist. You can undergo the examination yourself, and after that get a consultation with a doctor, because... deciphering an ultrasound scan can explain little to a non-specialist. The main indications according to which a neurologist issues a referral for ultrasound examination in childhood are the following:

• headaches of any origin;
• vestibulopathy;
• fainting conditions;
• impairment of one or more cognitive functions (attention, memory, psychomotor skills, speech, counting, thinking, etc.);
• disturbance of the emotional sphere (irritability, tearfulness, anger, etc.);
• hypertension (hypertension), diabetes, inflammatory and immunological vascular pathologies;
• sleep disorders (insomnia, increased sleepiness);
• restlessness and irritability;
• paresthesia of the scalp and neck (crawling of goosebumps, foreign objects, etc.).

Any of these signs can serve as a beacon signaling an early stage of cerebral circulation pathology, and their combined manifestation requires immediate intervention. This symptomatology is especially acute at school age, due to an increase in intellectual load and the onset of puberty. Some of these signs may arise as a result of the formation of incorrect posture and early osteochondrosis leading to the development of angiodystonic syndrome in children.

Studies of blood circulation in the arteries and veins of the head can help diagnose VSD, NCD, epilepsy, migraine, residual encephalopathy, logoneurosis, syndrome of impaired higher cortical functions, etc. They also allow you to diagnose a number of forms of hearing and vision impairment.

Advantages of Dopplerometry

Doppler ultrasound readings of the brain vessels, tissues of the head, shoulder girdle and neck are sent to the ultrasound doctor’s monitor in real time. This allows you to track the condition of a small patient at the time of the study. If venotonics are prescribed, assess the level of their effect after administration.

There are no consequences after the procedure - this method does not involve exposure of the child’s body to x-ray radiation, and there are no traumatic injuries to the skin. The operation of an ultrasound scanner, unlike an MRI machine, is not accompanied by sharp, frightening sounds, and unlike an EEG, it is not accompanied by photostimulation. After ultrasound, there is no increase in the symptoms of the underlying disease. Therefore, to monitor the pathological process over time, it can be prescribed at any frequency necessary for treatment.

Where to do Doppler testing in childhood?

Where can I get an examination of the blood vessels of the brain, tissues of the head, shoulder girdle and neck for children (including up to one year old)? As for adults - in any specialized center. In addition, today in any sufficiently large medical institution where there is an ultrasound device, you can successfully undergo a diagnostic examination.

An additional positive aspect of ultrasound diagnostics is the availability of portable devices. This allows children to be scanned at home.

Where the research is conducted does not matter to the effectiveness. The location does not affect the information content, painlessness and absence of side effects.

Study preparation and procedure

If you are conducting the examination in a medical facility, preparation will be minimal. You need to have a diaper with you (put the baby on the couch), water or milk for the baby and disposable wipes (remove excess gel after the procedure). The baby should not be hungry, thirsty or afraid. To do this, you need to have a conversation with him the day before and explain (preferably in a playful way) that the technique is painless.

You need to warn the baby that the doctor may ask him to roll over, change the position of his neck - these commands must be followed. If a child takes venotonics and drugs that improve brain trophism, it is better to refrain from taking them until the study is carried out.

The procedure is carried out in a lying position, and a gel is applied to the area being examined. Then, using a sensor, the doctor receives a visual and audio reflection of the processes of blood movement through the vessels of the child’s head and neck.

Analysis of the ultrasound results will allow us to draw conclusions about the condition of the vessels of the baby’s head and neck (the tone of the veins and arteries, the presence of occlusions, stenoses, pathological tortuosity, etc.). If an ultrasound scan is performed in combination with a duplex study, it is possible to obtain data not only on the characteristics of blood flow, but also on the architectonics of arteries and veins.

Ultrasound diagnostics is an important method in diagnosing many diseases, especially in children. Indeed, unlike many other methods, it is completely safe and can even be used to detect pathology in the fetus. An especially important element in diagnosing diseases in children is ultrasound of the child’s blood vessels, in particular the head and neck. For this purpose, sensors with the Doppler effect are used to visualize vessels and calculate their characteristics.

Ultrasound of neck vessels in children

As already mentioned, it doesn’t matter how old the baby is or what his condition is - ultrasound of the neck vessels is completely safe for a child. This procedure is even recommended if the birth was long or difficult, or the doctor suspects that there were injuries to the head or soft tissues of the neck. The good thing about this method is that you don’t need to prepare for it. - a natural hole in the bones of the skull that has not yet closed. In this case, fairly accurate results are obtained, because the doctor sees the structures of the brain and can determine whether there are any injuries, as well as whether the vessels are pinched.

When is ultrasound of the neck vessels used in a child?

The procedure itself. But speaking specifically, it is usually prescribed even in the first days after birth. If the mother had a difficult, protracted labor, there is a suspicion that the child could have suffered from hypoxia, an ultrasound of the cervical vessels in children is mandatory. Moreover, now a number of doctors advocate that all newborn children undergo this examination, since a number of pathologies often develop without symptoms.

There are two ways to conduct this type of diagnosis in children (neurosonography, as it is also called). If the child is less than one year old, his fontanelles have not yet closed - special holes in the skull through which the sensor can transmit ultrasound and visualize information about the condition, as well as it. But if the fontanelles have already closed, then an ultrasound is performed through the temporal bones.

You only need to prepare mentally for an ultrasound examination of neck vessels in children. The child must understand that it will not hurt him, and the procedure itself will take a little time.

So, the vessels of the neck in children are analyzed by ultrasound without fail in the following situations:

• complications during childbirth;
• birth much earlier than expected;
• congenital vascular anomalies (eg, aneurysm);
• hemorrhages into the cranial cavity;
• temporary loss of consciousness in a child;
• persistent increase in intracranial pressure;
• brain hypoxia during and after childbirth;
• injuries during childbirth;
• a history of obesity, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and other diseases that impair the blood supply to the brain;
• the presence of infections in the mother during pregnancy.

(that is, with vascular analysis) is also carried out in order to prevent the development of cerebral palsy. Indeed, at an early stage it is possible to identify which vessels are stenotic or experience constant spasms.

There is also a list of symptoms when a doctor thinks about prescribing an ultrasound of the neck vessels for children. Typically these are the following complaints:

• frequent and severe headache;
• insomnia;
• cognitive impairment;
• constant restlessness;
• developmental delay, in particular speech;
• irritability;
• heaviness in the neck and head;
• signs of vascular inflammation.

All this indicates a possible cerebral circulation disorder, so doctors need to immediately prescribe an ultrasound to the child to prevent the development of the disease. After all, already from childhood it is possible to identify the beginnings of vegetative-vascular dystonia, epilepsy, migraine, visual or hearing impairment, etc.

Why is neck ultrasound rarely used?

Despite the importance of this diagnostic method, neck ultrasound is not one of the most popular tests. The same study or is carried out more often, even in children. Some people prefer not to do the examination because it is expensive, others do not pay attention to symptoms that are so harmless as they may seem at first glance. But ultrasound of the neck vessels is almost the only available way to get a complete picture of the state of blood circulation in the child’s brain, because the vessels in these two organs have a similar condition. Therefore, the method needs to be popularized and used more frequently.

Of course, vascular ultrasound in children does not reveal atherosclerosis, thrombosis and other adult problems. But aneurysms, stenosis, and kinking syndrome (these are pathologically tortuous arteries) often occur. Moreover, there may be serious consequences of injuries, for example, pinched vertebrae or even cerebral hemorrhage, so it is important not to be indifferent to such studies, as they can save the child’s life.

How to prepare for an ultrasound examination of a child: details and tips for parents

As has been said many times, ultrasound of the brain and its vessels does not require any preparation. This means that you don't need to adjust your diet or gain strength for. All you need to do is come to the ultrasound doctor’s office at the appointed time with your child and conduct research. Although the doctor will explain to the baby what awaits him, it is better for the parents to reassure the child in advance that everything will be fine.

If the examination is performed on infants, you can literally feed them before the procedure so that they fall asleep and are calm during the diagnosis. This will save you a lot of hassle and problems.

How is ultrasound of neck vessels performed in children?

The study itself is quite routine. First, the child is placed on the couch, then his neck is lubricated with a generous amount of a special gel, after which the sensor is moved over it. It measures the characteristics of blood flow and tissues nearby near the vessels. Then, depending on the type of device, a color or black and white image is displayed on the screen.

The procedure itself is carried out within 10 minutes, if the large vessels of the neck are simply examined. But if the ultrasound diagnosis is more global or the patient is quite active, the examination may be delayed, lasting up to 20 minutes.

Then, as soon as the results of the analysis recorded in the protocol are received, you can continue your normal life - ultrasound does not require post-procedural manipulations or actions.

Interpretation of the Results of Ultrasound of the Vessels of the Child's Neck

Of course, having received the results, parents want to know if everything is fine with their child. But what awaits them is only a set of numbers that are difficult to understand. There are the diameter of the vessels, the speed of blood flow in them, the degree of stenosis of the vessels, and other pathologies.

In order not to get confused in all the terms and draw the right conclusions for yourself, you need to consult professionals. This is either a vascular surgeon, or a neurologist and pediatrician. His consultations will practically not complicate the patient’s situation in any way, but they can also improve it in any way they can.

Problems with blood vessels, contrary to popular belief, are also common in minor patients, and the vessels of the head and neck are especially often affected. Therefore, Doppler ultrasound of the vessels of the head and neck is a very popular research method today.

Doppler ultrasound of head and neck vessels for children of all ages

Doppler ultrasound is based on the fact that the ultrasound of diagnostic equipment reacts to moving red blood cells in the patient’s blood and thereby gives an idea of ​​the intensity of blood flow, the lumen of blood vessels and many other parameters. The information content of the examination is quite high, however, if necessary, Dopplerography of the vessels of the child’s head and neck can be supplemented with duplex scanning. Dopplerography of the vessels of the head and neck can be performed on a child at any age, since this study does not require prolonged immobility. The anatomy of an adult and a child has certain differences, so a doctor who performs an ultrasound scan of the vessels of the head and neck of a child must know the characteristics of blood flow in the child’s body.

Indications for Dopplerography of the vessels of the head and neck for children

Dopplerography of cerebral vessels in children is an optional procedure, so it is carried out as prescribed by a doctor. In order to understand whether this study is necessary, the doctor must know the general clinical picture and pay attention to alarming symptoms that may be signs of vascular problems.

Headache

The causes of headaches in a child can be both hypertension and injury. With them, children are at risk of vascular deformation, which will be clearly visible on an ultrasound scan of the head if it occurs.

Restlessness

Restlessness and hyperactivity of a child can also be indications for this, since often these symptoms arise as a result of damage to the central nervous system. Assessing the performance of blood vessels helps to identify possible damage and adjust treatment.

The child gets tired quickly

The cause of increased fatigue, which does not allow the child to study and develop normally, may be increased intracranial pressure. This affects the quality of blood circulation in the brain and neck, so Dopplerography of blood vessels will be the most informative procedure for determining the causes of this condition in the child.

Memory and attention disorders

This is one of the symptoms of attention deficit disorder and other disorders that require in-depth research into the causes. It is possible that memory and attention impairments in a child occur due to insufficient blood supply to the brain, and an ultrasound scan of the vessels of the head and neck will help to exclude or confirm this.

Delays in speech development

The most common cause of delayed speech development in a child is minimal brain dysfunction, which can be caused by both birth and postpartum injuries and hypoxia. In case of organic brain dysfunction in children, ultrasound examination of the vessels of the head and neck will be the most accurate way to determine the degree of damage.

Preparation for the procedure

Ultrasound scanning of the vessels of the head and neck requires, first of all, psychological preparation of the child: it is necessary to explain to him that this is a painless procedure and tell him in detail how it is carried out. Also, before it, children can be shown videos and reviews about ultrasound scanning of the vessels of the head. If a child takes vascular medications due to illness, they must be discontinued in order for the study results to be reliable.

How is the research going?

Ultrasound scanning of the vessels of the head and neck for children is done in ultrasound diagnostic rooms. In order to examine the vessels of the head, the child will be asked to lie on the couch, his neck and head should be freed from clothing and jewelry. Transcranial vessels of the head during ultrasound examination are examined with a sensor in the area of ​​the back of the head, temples and eyes, which the child must be told about in advance. In order to examine the vessels of the neck, the patient must lie on his stomach. and the neck of an infant is done with the help of parents who hold the baby in such a way as to ensure his immobility.

Decoding the results

The results are deciphered by the sonologist who conducts the examination. Usually he reports what he sees on the monitor to his parents and enters the findings into the conclusion. Subsequently, the conclusion must be transferred to the attending physician. It is worth noting that deciphering the results of an ultrasound scan of the vessels of the head and neck and making a diagnosis are not the same thing; the final conclusions about the child’s health are made by the attending physician. If necessary, a more in-depth study, such as an MRI, may be prescribed.

Contraindications for

Doppler ultrasound is one of the ultrasound methods that is generally available and well mastered by modern medicine. Ultrasound scanning of the vessels of the head and neck can be done on a child of any age and condition, since ultrasound is completely safe and has no contraindications. No wonder it is regularly prescribed to pregnant women to study the fetal heartbeat. Ultrasound examination can be difficult if there is a significant layer of fat in the patient's body, but such problems do not arise with children.

For children, ultrasound examination (ultrasound) is a fairly comfortable and not too long procedure. An absolute advantage is that to carry it out the patient does not need to be in a dark room and wear many sensors. There is almost no need to prepare for the procedure; it also cannot cause negative consequences. It can be used to examine the patient's soft tissues and internal organs, including the brain.

Quite often, ultrasound is prescribed for newborns in order to immediately identify various pathologies in the early stages of development.

There are three main types of ultrasound:

1. Ultrasound Dopplerography (USDG) represents , heads, etc. The main goal is to determine the patency of the vessel.
2. Duplex ultrasound has this name because it includes two main functions - assessing the speed of blood flow of blood vessels and studying their anatomy. Briefly, this method provides visualization of blood clots, plaques, thickening of the vessel walls and their tortuosity.
3. At triplex scanning on the screen you can see the vessel against the background of tissue. In this case, mapping occurs, in other words, the vessel acquires different colors.

Indications for diagnosis in children under one year of age

Ultrasound examinations are prescribed to babies from the very first days of life. Usually prescribed in the maternity hospital. What does this study show in children?

Indicators for neurosonography are as follows:

• premature baby;
• post-term pregnancy;
• primary signs of damage to the nervous system (delayed psychomotor development, seizures, etc.);
• birth injuries in babies;
• congenital brain defects;
• respiratory distress syndrome, etc.

Important! In these cases, the procedure can be performed on the child even on the first day after birth.

The study can be carried out while the child is sleeping. If the baby does not sleep, before the procedure you need to calm him down, feed him and give him a toy. The procedure is not accompanied by medication.

Reference! The average price of neurosonography in Moscow is 1917 rubles. In numerous clinics the price may vary, starting from 480 rubles. With Doppler ultrasound it will be slightly higher. The duration of the study is 10-15 minutes.

For any parent, early detection of pathology is important, and neurosonography provides indispensable help with this. The procedure may be supplemented by Doppler ultrasound in special cases.

Indications for ultrasound examination:

• transfer of intrauterine infection;
• difficult childbirth, which was accompanied by aids;
• premature baby;
• possible intracranial pressure;
• states of fainting;
• possible congenital aneurysm;
• birth injuries;
• possible intracranial bleeding;
• presence of diabetes and excess weight.

Many doctors believe that this procedure should be carried out on all babies under one year of age for prevention, despite the presence of indications.

If the diagnosis is carried out on time, you can not only learn about the pathology, but also immediately begin treatment (if possible).

There are diseases that are easy to treat at an early age, but in older children the situation can become much more complicated.

Attention! Without diagnosis, there is a risk of missing the first symptoms of cerebral palsy or developing hydrocephalus.

Indications for ultrasound of a child’s head after one year

By the age of two, almost all children have a large fontanel overgrown, which excludes the possibility of neurosonography. Despite this, the need for an ultrasound examination may arise.

Children after 1 year of age are usually prescribed Dopplerography of intra- and extranial vessels as an independent procedure or together with ultrasound scanning (duplex scanning). The main indications for a neurologist to perform:

• Severe and frequent headaches;
• Conditions of fainting;
• Violations of any cognitive functions (problems with memory, speech, etc.);
• Problems in expressing emotions (excessive irritability, frequent tearfulness, etc.);
• Increased drowsiness or insomnia;
• Diabetes, high blood pressure, immunological and inflammatory vascular pathologies;
• Paresthesia of the skin of the neck and head (tingling sensation, burning sensation, etc.)

If any of the listed symptoms are detected, it may be a signal of the initial stage of cerebral circulation pathology. In the event that there are several of the listed symptoms, you should immediately contact a medical facility for help.

Research will help identify vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD), neurocirculatory dystonia (NCD), migraine, epilepsy, logoneurosis, etc. It is also possible to diagnose some forms of visual and hearing impairment.

Important! Such symptoms most often appear in school-age children due to the fact that mental workload increases several times and the onset of puberty occurs.

Early osteochondrosis and incorrect posture may be the basis for the appearance of some symptoms.

Features of the event

During the ultrasound, the patient is in a supine position, and gel is applied to the necessary areas. On the monitor, the doctor sees readings of the blood vessels of the brain, neck and head tissues, as well as the shoulder girdle. This helps to track the child’s condition at the current moment.

No negative consequences of the procedure were found, there is no risk of skin damage, and there are no sharp sounds that could frighten the baby.

How to prepare a child for research?

In a medical institution, preparing for the procedure is quite simple - in order to place the child on the couch, you need to take a diaper with you. Also bring wipes to remove any remaining gel and a drink for the baby.

The child should not feel hungry, thirsty or afraid before the procedure. To exclude the latter, you need to talk to the baby in a playful way, explaining to him that nothing bad will happen and he will not experience pain.

It is important to explain to the child that he follows all the doctor’s instructions - for example, change the position of the neck, roll over, etc. Before the procedure, it is better not to use venotonics and drugs that improve brain trophism.

Possible restrictions

There are no direct contraindications - ultrasound examination is an absolutely painless procedure, no health risks have been identified at the moment.

Where to do it and how much does the procedure cost?

Children, like adults, can undergo the procedure at any major medical institution. It doesn't make any difference to the result. If you want to have the procedure done in a paid clinic, you don’t have to worry about the price - it is accessible to all segments of the population. Average, from 1000 to 3000 rubles.

Conclusion

Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) is a procedure performed to diagnose the blood vessels of the brain. There are no contraindications for its implementation, it does not require special preparation. The duration is short - 15-20 minutes. The procedure can be performed on children of any age, even newborns.