Prenatal and postnatal neurological evaluation of a fetus and newborn from pregnancy complicated with IUGR and fetal hypoxemia

KANET in Brazil: First Experience

Objective

The goal of this pilot test is to compare Kurjak's antenatal neurological test (KANET) results between high and low-risk pregnancies and see the feasibility of using this test on a larger scale in Brazil.

Methods

We applied KANET test in high-risk (n = 17) and low-risk (n = 34) pregnancies and compared the results.

Results

There was a significant difference between groups of high-risk and low-risk pregnancies for all parameters in KANET score 2. For KANET score 0, 5 out of 8 parameters where significant different: isolated head anteflexion, cranial sutures and head circumference, isolated hand movement or hand to face movements, isolated leg movement and fingers movements. All abnormal KANET result came from high-risk pregnancies (17.6%). No low-risk pregnancies presented KANET score 0. Efficacy and effectiveness were not evaluated due to the imprecision inherent in data from small samples.

Conclusion

This successful preliminary study of KANET in Brazil showed important differences in fetal behavior between the low and high-risk pregnancies, and can be used as information of feasibility and identify modifications needed in the design of a larger testing study.

How to cite this article

Neto RM. KANET in Brazil: First Experience. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2015;9(1):1-5.

First Experience in Clinical Application of KANET

Introduction of three- and four-dimensional ultrasound into clinical practice enabled qualitative and quantitative assessment of fetal movements, including the analysis of fetal face expression which is considered to be the mirror of the maturational processes of upper motor neuron. Since, prenatal fetal behavioral patterns are reflections of developmental and maturational processes within the fetal central nervous system, the findings about changes in fetal movements and behavior could leed to the prenatal diagnosis of neurological impairment. Kurjak's antenatal neurodevelopment test (KANET) is the first prenatal test based on the three- and four-dimensional ultrasound examination of the fetus that could be used for the evaluation and prediction of the fetal neurologic status.

How to cite this article

Luetic AT. First Experience in Clinical Application of KANET. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2015;9(1):96-99.

Recent Results of the Clinical Application of Kanet Test

Many investigations led to the conclusion that fetal behavioral patterns directly reflect developmental and maturational processes of fetal central nervous system (CNS), and may make possible to distinguish between normal and abnormal brain development as well as prenatal diagnosis of neurological impairment. The arrival of three- and four-dimensional ultrasound (3D/4D US) made possible to study fetal behavioral patterns. Kurjak's antenatal neurodevelopmental test (KANET) is the first prenatal test based on 3D/4D ultrasound examination of the fetus, that could be used for the evaluation and prediction of fetal neurological status. Here, we present our review of literature on KANET around the world and summarized results of this promising prenatal neurological screening test.

How to cite this article

Neto RM, Kurjak A. Recent Results of the Clinical Application of Kanet Test. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2015;9(4):420-425.

4D Ultrasound - Medical Devices for Recent Advances on the Etiology of Cerebral Palsy

Children cerebral palsy (CCP) encompasses a group of nonprogessive and noninfectious conditions, which cause light, moderate, and severe deviations in neurological development. Diagnosis of CCP is set mostly by the age of 3 years. The fact that a large number of cerebral damage occurs prenatally and the fact that early intervention in cases of neurological damage is successful, prompted some researchers to explore the possibility of detecting neurologically damaged fetus in the uterus. This research was made possible thanks to the development of two-dimensional ultrasound technology in a real time, which enabled the display of the mobility of the fetus. Advancement of the ultrasound technology has enabled the development of 4D ultrasound where a spontaneous fetal movement can be observed almost in a real time. Estimate of the number and quality of spontaneous fetal movements and stitches on the head, the neurology thumb and a high palate were included in the prenatal neurological screening of the fetus. This raises the question, as to does the fetal behavior reflect, (which was revealed in 2D or 4D ultrasound), fetal neurological development in a manner that will allow the detection of the brain damage.

Neurobehavior in fetal life

Assessment fetal behavior gave a promising opportunity to understand the hidden function of the developmental pathway of the fetal central nervous system. After the assessment of normal neurobehavioral development by four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound, attempts have been made to identify functional characteristics of the fetus that predict a range of subsequent developmental dysfunction. These attempts resulted in producing the Kurjak Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Test (KANET). Assessment of fetal behavior by 4D ultrasound and application of KANET scoring test has been recently published in several journals and summarized results are presented in this review.