Association of amplitude integrated EEG findings with short term neurological outcome in term neonates

Authors : Sharma Giriraj kumar , Balaji Padma,H Vaanathi ,R Shobana , Yadav Rahul

Objective : To study the associaton between aEEG findings and short term neurological  outcome in term neonates.

Methods : 29 newborn babies with encephalopathy or clinical seizures, admitted in KKCTH NICU and undergone aEEG monitoring, were enrolled in study. aEEG findings were analyzed on the basis of (1) background activity (2) sleep wake cycle (3) seizures. Short term outcome was defined as normal/abnormal  neurological status at discharge(NSD), or death.

Results : All 7 babies with continuous background  had normal neurological status at discharge. Out of 13 babies with discontinuous background, 1 (7.6%) had abnormal NSD, 1 (7.6%) expired, 11 (84.6%)  had normal NSD. Out of 5 babies with burst suppression background,  2 (40%) had abnormal NSD and 3(60%) expired. There was statistically significant association between aEEG background activity and short term outcome (p value 0.001).

Out of 16 babies with absent sleep wake cycle 6 (37.5%) had normal NSD, 3 (18.7%) had abnormal NSD and 7 (43.7%) expired. All 13 babies with preserved sleep wake cycle had normal neurological status at discharge. There was a statistically significant association between sleep wake cycle and short term neurological outcome (p vale 0.002).

Conclusion : aEEG background activity and sleep wake cycle can provide useful information about short term neurological outcome in term neonates.