[Advances in neonatal neurology].
BACKGROUND
Notable changes have occurred in the field of neonatology in recent years. Logically, neonatal neurology has made a major contribution to this progress.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge in the field of neonatal neurology has multiplied: fetal neurology has developed, fetal and neonatal welfare is better understood, and spectacularly modified by techniques of assisted ventilation. High resolution ultrasonography permits visualization of fetal cerebral anomalies, the treatment of hypoxic encephalopathy is advancing as is non-invasive cerebral hemodynamic monitoring. Neuroimaging techniques let us see not only the structure of the brain but also how it functions, to some extent. New antiepileptic drugs have appeared. Various treatable causes of neonatal convulsions have been identified. Infections and the incidence of hemorrhage in premature babies have fallen at the same time as new metabolic disease of neonatal onset (protein glycosilation, folinic-sensitive convulsions and adenylsuccinate deficiency) have been identified. Ethics committees for consensual decisions in neonatal intensive care units have become established. We emphasize the need for units for the follow-up of newborn babies with a risk of developing neurological complications, with programmes adapted to the needs of each individual centre.
Campistol
J
J
Servicio de Neurología, Unitat Integrada Hospital Sant Joan de Déu-Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, España. campistol@hsjdbcn.org
D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009359:Neonatology / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D009462:Neurology / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends