Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026
Application of an Amplitude-integrated EEG Monitor (Cerebral Function Monitor) to Neonates
Published on: September 6, 2017
Early amplitude integrated electroencephalography and outcome of very low birth weight infants
Mohamed El-Dib1, An N Massaro, Penny Glass
1Department of Neonatology, Children's National Medical Center, and George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia 20010, USA. mafeldib@gmail.com
Objective:
Amplitude integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) has been used in neonates in various clinical and research applications. We hypothesized that an abnormal aEEG score could be used as a predictor of short-term adverse outcome.
Methods:
Very low birth weight infants were enrolled in a prospective observational cohort study. Two channel 12-hour continuous aEEG recordings were performed within 48 h of life and at 1 week of age. Recordings were classified as abnormal if they correspond to a 2 point difference in score. Short-term adverse outcome was defined as either death or Bayley scales ≤ 70 at 4 months corrected age.
Results:
One hundred infants were enrolled. Their average gestational age was 27.9 ± 2.6 weeks and average birth weight was 997 ± 299 gram. Fifteen enrolled infants died, one was withdrawn, 29 lost to follow up, and 55 examined at 4 months. Those with adverse outcome had significantly increased percentages of abnormal EEG at 1 week of life (31% vs. 8%), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (27% vs. 4.5%), intubation in the delivery room (45% vs. 16%), and increased average days of mechanical ventilation (16 days vs. 4 days). Combining abnormal aEEG at 1 week of life to severe IVH on early head ultrasound increased the sensitivity of ultrasound to detect short-term adverse outcome from 27% to 50%.
Conclusion:
aEEG is feasible in premature infants and when its data at 1 week of life are combined with early head ultrasound, sensitivity for detecting short-term adverse outcomes was increased.
