Hyperechogenous intestine in the fetus: what is it?

Waiting for a child is one of the happiest and most exciting moments in a woman's life, which, unfortunately, is often accompanied by problems of the physical condition of the future mother or the development of the fetus. One of such pathologies is the hyperechoic gut in the fetus.

Increased echogenicity indicates the accumulation of fecal masses, this is evident only with ultrasound examination. If such a sign is found, the doctor or himself conducts a detailed examination of the fetus or, better and more naturally, directs the patient to genetics. And if the "hyperechoic intestine" is diagnosed in the fetus, the causes will be clarified at the chromosome level.

Procedures for detecting the disease

Day after day, the time before the meeting with the baby is reduced, and throughout the entire pregnancy, the mother treats carefully to her baby. On the appointment of doctors and for their own calming, ultrasound and other examinations are performed to identify any deviations in fetal development at the earliest possible dates and to take further measures to resolve the situation. Already at 6-8 weeks the intestine of the child is seen, but while it is outside the abdominal cavity. Active development of the body begins after the 12th week of pregnancy.

Many mothers, because of their medical lack of education, do not know what the hyperechoic gut is in the fetus, and they begin to worry much for the development and life of the unborn child. The reasons for the experience is in fact a lot, if the diagnosis is confirmed. But in order to put it, you need to undergo a comprehensive examination, one ultrasound is not enough. It is possible that this pathology will eventually disappear by itself.

What is the hyperechoic intestine?

Often such a diagnosis can be delivered to perfectly healthy children, and to confirm the rejection or refute it, you need to go through several procedures:

• Double / triple biochemical test;
• Repeated ultrasound in a month;
• Examination for the presence of antibodies.

At the slightest suspicion of pathology, it is necessary to go through all the examinations that the doctor will appoint. The hyperechoic intestine of the fetus is the most A common prenatal echographic marker of hereditary or congenital anomalies, which is accompanied by a high degree of echogenicity comparable to bone.

According to statistics, in the second trimester of pregnancy, this pathology is revealed in 0.5% of the fetuses. The cause of the appearance of the phenomenon is not fully understood, such an intestine can in some cases be considered the norm or be noted when the blood is swallowed by a fruit that is not digested in the gut lumen.

Diagnostic examination

First and foremost, you need to immediately apply to a geneticist who specializes in chromosomal phenomena. He will conduct a survey, look at and evaluate the findings in a biochemical test, examine the ultrasound diagnosis, which confirmed the diagnosis, the hyperechoic gut in the fetus how to treat, prompt and observe the conduct of pregnancy.

If there are signs of abnormality with ultrasound, it is not a reason to say that there is a chromosomal pathology, and this is not yet an indication for abortion. In this case, invasive prenatal diagnosis is prescribed. Fetal cells are taken for a thin microscopic analysis. This procedure is called aspirating chorionic villi.

If the diagnosis of "hyperechoic gut" in the fetus is confirmed, a follow-up examination will be scheduled. On ultrasound, such an intestine is very prominent, it looks like a bright spot.

All measures are taken to detect this pathology before the 16th week. Before this period, the intestine of even a completely healthy fetus can have a high echogenicity. In cases where visualization of fetal organs on ultrasound is difficult because of maternal obesity or lack of hydration, transvaginal echography is used to detect the anomaly.

The reasons for the appearance of deviations

If there is no increase in echogenicity in further studies, then you can calm down. This feature of the intestine can be observed in absolutely healthy embryos and eventually a chasm.

However, such a deviation can become a bright sign of serious genetic abnormalities or underdevelopment of the fetus, for example, it is diagnosed in Down's syndrome. Therefore, doctors start to sound an alarm at the slightest violations in the echogenicity of the intestine. It is necessary to create a complete clinical picture and to make a clear assessment of all the anatomical features of the fetus. The following causes of anomalies are also considered:

• Intrauterine infection of the fetus;
• Delay in development.

When the reason for the delay in development

In this case, there will be accompanying symptoms:

• Small fetal sizes that do not correspond to the development period;
• Water scarcity;
• Decreased uterine blood flow;
• Decreased placental blood flow.

In the presence of these accompanying signs, one can speak of intrauterine growth retardation. If they are not, this is excluded.

Often, the increase in echogenicity is associated with a decrease in the water component of meconium or peristalsis, because the activation of the reduction of amniotic fluid enzymes occurs precisely with chromosomal abnormalities.

It is difficult to answer unequivocally during pregnancy on the question of what caused this deviation. Among additional echographic markers, trisomy 13 is isolated:

• Tachycardia;
• Holoproencephaly;
• Omphalocele.

Naturally, on the basis of these indicators it is impossible to conclude that there is a blemish, but such data already brings the patient into the risk group.

Consequences of abnormalities in the intestine

Very rare in fact, the find - the hyperechoic gut in the fetus. The causes, consequences of such pathology, as a rule, are interrelated. Although this anomaly is a serious and important marker indicating abnormalities in the development of the fetus, in most cases, children are born healthy, without any violation of DNA. With dynamic observation, this pathology in most cases disappears, and after a few weeks the intestine becomes normal.

The detection of pathology at later stages of pregnancy (after the second trimester) may become a sign of the development of meconium peritonitis or meconium ileus, and also evidence of infection with chickenpox. The detection of deviations is due to an insufficient assessment of the deviation. It is also necessary to take into account that different technical devices can show significant differences in the images.

When is surgery required?

In some cases, the danger does not carry the hyperechoic gut in the fetus, the consequences in other situations can be dangerous. When a meconium peritonitis is detected, an operation is prescribed, but not always. Surgery is required with symptoms of an acute abdomen and signs of obstruction. If there are no indications for the operation, a dynamic observation of the newborn is assigned. Often, such operations are accompanied by a large loss of blood, which can lead to a syndrome of the small intestine.

Intrauterine death occurs in this pathology in 8% of cases, neonatal losses - 0.8%. The overall frequency of prenatal adverse outcomes is 48.4%. When a phenomenon is detected in the prenatal period, the newborn needs dynamic observation and systematic therapy.

More on Down's Syndrome

This is a relatively common congenital pathology, which is caused by the presence of an additional chromosome in 21 pairs. Of all the anomalies studied, associated with a violation in chromosomes, this is the most common and studied. About half of the children with this syndrome suffer:

• Heart disease;
• Defect of the interventricular septum;
• Hirschsprung's disease.

During pregnancy, screening tests are performed to determine Down's syndrome. An early diagnosis of the risk of developing the disease is assisted by invasive diagnostics:

• Ultrasound examination;
• Chordocentesis;
• amniocentesis;
• Chorionic villus sampling.

The probability of detecting a vice in the second trimester is 60-90%. It depends on the choice of research method.

Hyperechogenous intestine in fetus after 20 weeks

Hyperechoic gut in the fetus at 20 weeks may be accompanied by signs of premature ripening of the placenta. The attention of physicians in this case will first of all be aimed at excluding diseases at the chromosomal level. In this case, there will be no risks, and such changes in the intestine can also occur in quite healthy children.

In any case, the patient will be sent to the genetics to confirm or deny the diagnosis on the basis of the examination and results of the tests.

The specialist will give further recommendations for action on the basis of his conclusions. Since these symptoms can accompany infection, a survey is assigned:

• Urearlazma;
• Mycoplasma;
• Streptococcus g. AT.

If the diagnosis of "hyperechoic intestine" is established in the fetus, what does this mean and what is the examination assigned? A woman undergoes comprehensive diagnostics, which includes:

• Evaluation of ultrasound fetal anatomy;
• Control over his condition;
• Performance of infection tests.

Hyperechoic intestine in the fetus treatment implies a complex. As a rule, the outcome of therapy is in most cases positive.