An Ultrasonographer can Help Alcohol Exposed Fetuses
This blog is now focused on laboratory specialties. This article is here for your information only, as jobs are longer provided for any radiation technician specialties.
DISCLAIMER: The photo in this article is Tess Johnson (right) at CHG’s Halloween party. She took second prize in the costume contest with this flattering ensemble. By day, Tess is one of the staff writers for this blog; by night…uh…well, this picture speaks for its self!!!
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy may reduce the size of the fetal frontal cortex, resulting in functional disabilities for the child, according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. For this study ultrasonographers performed multiple ultrasounds on 167 pregnant women between 12 and 42 weeks gestation. During the assessments, the frontal cortex and other brain structures were visualized and measured by an ultrasonographer. Ninety-seven of the women who were scanned by an ultrasonographer reported consuming little or no alcohol (less than one ounce on average per day) around the time of conception. In contrast 70 of the women who were scanned by an ultrasonographer consumed moderate (1-2.99 ounces on average per day) to large amounts (3 or more ounces on average per day).
Through the use of ultrasound researchers found that alcohol exposure was associated with a reduction in the frontal cortex. However, ultrasonographers did not see problems with the development of other brain structures. Thus, ultrasonographers witnessed a disproportionate effect of alcohol on the frontal cortex rather than the brain overall. Ultrasonographer’s scans did show that other substances had a minor effect on frontal lobe size, but the impact of alcohol was most significant.
Ultrasonographer’s exams yielded shocking results: 23% of fetuses exposed to large amounts of alcohol had a frontal cortex length below the 10th percentile, and 46% had a frontal cortex below the 25th percentile. When ultrasonographers examined nonexposed fetuses, only 4% had a frontal cortex length below the 10th percentile and 20% had a frontal cortex below the 25th percentile. Researchers saw in ultrasonographer’s exams that reductions in the frontal cortex were caused the alcohol exposed children to have difficulties updating and manipulating information in working memory, inhibiting information and actions and sustaining attention. Children affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome typically show growth retardation, facial dysmorphology and central nervous system dysfunction. Study authors added that ultrasonography may be a powerful primary intervention tool. An ultrasonographer who sees alcohol-induced changes in the fetal brain can alert the woman’s physician, who can encourage women who drink during pregnancy to seek treatment. It was seen that if an ultrasonographer did identify these alcohol-exposed fetuses and the mothers did get help as a result, there are positive outcomes and a reduced likelihood of secondary disabilities.
Learn about hiring an ultrasonographer.
Sources:
- http://www.americanhealthline.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/archives/2001/09/m010927.11.html
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[...] Justin Crawmer wrote a fantastic post today on “An Ultrasonographer can Help Alcohol Exposed Fetuses”Here’s ONLY a quick extractAlcohol consumption during pregnancy may reduce the size of the fetal frontal cortex, resulting in functional disabilities for the child, according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. … [...]