Decreased aEEG Continuity and Baseline Variability in the First 48 Hours of Life Associated With Poor Short-Term Outcome in Neonates Born Before 29 Weeks Gestation

摘要

Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) provides us with a method of assessing brain activity in critically ill neonates. In extremely premature neonates, the aEEG trace is predominantly discontinuous, making it difficult to distinguish between a “normal” and “abnormal” trace. We measured aEEG activity in the first 48 h of life in neonates born before 29-wk gestation and used both visual and quantitative analysis of the aEEG data to assess differences in neonates with poor short-term outcome [death or peri/intraventricular hemorrhage (P/IVH)] compared with those who survived without P/IVH to identify features of an abnormal aEEG. On quantitative analysis, EEG continuity Abbreviations: aEEG, amplitude integrated electroencephalography; P/IVH, peri/intraventricular hemorrhage