Amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram 1 h after birth in a preterm infant with cystic periventricular...

We report a preterm infant, who showed abnormal amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) findings 1 h after birth and later developed cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). The patient was a girl with a gestational age of 29 weeks. She was delivered by emergency cesarean section because of placental abruption and intrauterine co-twin demise. Artificial ventilation and administration of surfactant were needed to treat respiratory distress syndrome. Her cardiovascular condition was stable with artificial ventilation. Cranial ultrasonography showed extended cystic PVL after 11 days of age. aEEG 1 h after birth showed a consistently inactive pattern that resolved completely 28 h after birth. The neurophysiological findings of this patient suggest that aEEG findings during the very early period after birth provide significant information for predicting PVL.