Evaluation of newborn baby with neural tube defect

introduction and Purpose: In this study, hospitalization of infants born with neural tube defects (NTD) in a neonatal clinic was evaluated in terms of factors such as comorbidities, clinical status, laboratory conditions, imaging results, surgeries underwent, length of stay, cost, and so on. Material and Method: The files of 192 newborn patients hospitalized with diagnosis of neural tube defects disease group in Dicle University Faculty of Medicine (DUFM) Research Hospital, Child Health and Diseases Neonatal Clinic between December 2009 and December 2013 were studied retrospectively. Results: Of the 192 patients in the study, 97 (50,5%) were male and 95 (49,5%) were female. The mean gestational age of mothers of the patients was 36,1 ± 3,1 weeks, birth weight was 2706 ± 710,39 grams, maternal age was 28,4 ± 6.26 years, and number of living children of mothers was 3.27 ± 2.116. Looking at the types of giving birth, 133 (71,5%) were cesarean delivery, and 53 (28,5%) were normal spontaneous vaginal delivery. Of the birth locations, 124 (64,5%) were in DUFM hospital, 67 (34,9%) were in other hospitals, and 1 (0,5%) was at home. The number of fetuses during pregnancy was 184 (95,8%) singletons, and 7 (3,6%) were found to be multiple gestations. On the employment status of the mothers, 153 (91,1%) were housewife, and 15 (.9%) were found to be employed. Looking at the maturity status, 86 (46.73%) were at term, 98 (53.26%) were premature and there was no postmature patient. After birth, 77 (44%) patients had positive pressure ventilation applied because of difficulty in breathing. The most frequent comorbidities were the premature birth, hypothyroidism and neonatal jaundice. The defect was in the cervical region in one of the patients with spinal-level neural tube defect. Two of the patients with cranial localization had a frontal localization. Hydrocephalus was identified in 101 out of 105 patients in cranial CT imaging. And, the total number of patients diagnosed with hydrocephalus through other imaging techniques and clinical findings were found to be 152. The most common pathological findings in the 29 patients who had transthoracic echocardiography was ASD in 17 patients (58.62%), and PDA in 12 patients (41.37%). Based on the CT, V cranial ultrasonography and MRI findings, corpus callosum dysgenesis/agenesis was found to be the most common, in 22 (57.89%) patients. Of the patients, 58 (30,2%) died during hospitalization. The mean length of stay of the patients was 21.14±20.19 days, and the mean cost per patient was calculated as 15050 ±17629 Turkish Liras. Conclusion: Neural tube defects can be prevented by folic acid supplement before birth, and these defects may lead to diseases and complications that affect many systems such as the respiratory system problems, cardiac anomalies, CNS anomalies, endocrine system problems. The length of stay and cost of these patients constitute a serious economic burden. Keywords: Neural Tube Defects, Hydrocephalus, Newborn, Infant