The Effect of Neural Tube Defects on Healthcare

Anencephaly is a congenital birth defect and is characterized by the absence of the prosencephalon (fore-brain), cerebrum, cerebellum, and cranium. Part of the brain-stem is usually present. The head usually stops just above the eyebrows and slopes backwards. Since the head stops so suddenly, many babies appear to have bulging eyes. Some are born with cyclopia, the presence of only one eye centered in the middle of the forehead.

I often think about neurological developments with all my clients. By looking at their History, including major disturbances in their childhood (even their experiences whilst in their mother’s womb) I am able to identify

A birth defect is preventable if the mother would take folic acid prior of becoming pregnant (U.S. Department of Health and Services, 2016). These reduce the chances of having a defect by 50-70% for neural tube defects. Some recommendations such as having a healthy weight, not to use illegal drugs, getting vaccinated, taking prenatal and or during pregnancy vitamins, having recommended screening test, controlling

Spina bifida is a type of birth defect called a neural tube defect, it happens if the spinal column of the fetus does not close completely during the first month or pregnancy, that can damage the nerves and spinal cord" (U.S National Library Medicine, 2014). Spina bifida's symptoms are defending on how severe the defect is. Children with mild form of spina bifida do not have any problems. According to WebMD, children with the most severe form often, have spine, and brain issues that cause serious problems (2014). Scientists believed that spina bifida is caused by a condition of genetic and environmental factors such as the mother's nutrition. "The long-term problems associated with spina bifida are; bowel problems, muscles movement, sensation, intellect and education, sexual function, emotional and family support (which are the most, needed on both affected person and their family), and urine and kidney problem; almost all

Spina Bifida is a birth defect in which a baby’s spine fails to develop properly during pregnancy due to neural tube defects. These neural tube defects prevent the backbone from forming around the spine and closing properly. Spina Bifida can be detected during pregnancy or after birth and in

“Lifetime costs have been estimated at $6 billion for those infants born in a single year with 1 or more of 17 major birth defects” .

"Spina bifida is a type of birth defect called a neural tube defect, it happens if the spinal column of the fetus does not close completely during the first month or pregnancy, that can damage the nerves and spinal cord" (U.S National Library Medicine, 2014). Spina bifida's symptoms are defending on how severe the defect is. Children with mild form of spina bifida do not have any problems. According to WebMD, children with the most severe form often, have spine, and brain issues that cause serious problems (2014). Scientists believed that spina bifida is caused by a condition of genetic and environmental factors such as the mother's nutrition. "The long-term problems associated with spina bifida are; bowel problems, hydrocephalus surgery, muscles

As a congenital malformation commonly affecting children born with Spina Bifida, the Arnold-Chiari malformation, or Chiari Malformation Type II, involves the irregular extension of both the cerebellar tonsils and the brain stem tissue into the opening to the spinal canal – the foramen magnum (NINDS, 2013). Typically, the brain stem and the cerebellum sit above the opening to the spinal canal, where the brain stem houses most of the cranial nerves that supply the body. Providing the control centres for vital bodily functions such as breathing, regulation of the body’s internal environment through maintenance of heart rate and blood pressure, as well as providing sensory and motor control to a significant portion of the body (Joynt, 2014), the Arnold-Chiari malformation causes substantial problems for patients. Likewise, the congestion of these structures in the spinal canal limits the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain to the spinal cord (Medway, 2006), causing other medical issues that become regularly associated with Spina Bifida as a result, such as hydrocephalus (Columbia Neurosurgery, n.d.). Issues associated with the Arnold-Chiari malformation can only be relieved, rather than treated, through surgical processes that aim to eliminate or reduce these symptoms (WebMD, 2014).

Spina bifida is a skeletal system disease and birth defect in which the neural tube fails to close properly during the first five weeks of pregnancy. Since the neural tube failed to close, the child will have damage to the nerves, spinal cord, and brain that varies in severity. Although the disease has declined since 1982, there has not been a significant decline and the disease has relatively stayed at the same percentile over the last several years. When I was born, I had a hole above my anus, where the end of my spinal cord is, that was no larger than the tip of a pen, but was still noticeable. After tests were conducted, it appeared to the doctors that I was almost a spina bifida newborn and that my neural tube barely closed in time for the developmental process, which is why this disease is so appealing to me.

Anencephaly is one of the neural tube defect and it is a serious birth defect that cause a baby to born with the absent of the brain and skull. In normal baby the formation and closing of neural tube will help form a normal brain and skull which is the upper part of neural tube along with spinal cord, and back bones which is the lower part of the neural tube. What happened in anencephaly Is that the upper part of the neural tube will not close probably all the way. This will cause the baby to be born with the absent of the front part of forebrain and the tanking part of the brain which is the cerebrum. The rest of the brain are often with neither skin nor bone

According to this chart, more than half of the babies born during this experiment were born with neural tube defects. This result was skewed because all but three of the babies born to the group that did not take folic acid until after conception were born with

Anencephaly is a birth defect that happens while your baby is developing. Anencephaly causes your baby to be missing parts of the brain, scalp, and skull when he or she is born. Anencephaly is a very serious type of neural tube defect (NTD). Most babies born with anencephaly only live for a short amount of time.

Spina bifida is a birth defect called neural tube defects. Normally, the neural tube forms early in pregnancy and then is fully closed by the 28th day after conception. Babies with spina bifida, a portion of the tube don’t develop or close properly, causing a defect in the spinal cord and in the bones of the spine.

Treatment plan for hydrocephalus involves surgery to remove the obstruction or creating a new pathway to divert excess CSF. This procedure can be done by placing a catheter or shunt in the ventricle which will pass the CSF to the peritoneal cavity, right atrium, or the pleural spaces of the lungs (London et al., 2014). The nursing management for these patients are centered around the surgical procedure. Three top nursing diagnosis for the child with hydrocephalus include: (a) impaired physical mobility, (b) risk for infection, and (c) risk for injury. First, in the pre-operative setting the interventions include: (a) small frequent feedings until placed on NPO status, (b) monitor head circumference and signs of ICP, (c) assess respiratory

The most common cause of genetic hydrocephalus is associated with aqueduct stenosis and is found as an X-Linked trait. This may be present in up to 25% of males with congenital hydrocephalus 6. Danish studies of familial aggregation suggest that there is a strong primary genetic component which is more influenced by the maternal genetics 7. Genetic counselling must be considered on an individual basis due to its cost and the low overall recurrence risk of this condition which is approximately 0.6-1.4% 8.