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Updated: May 12, 2026
Application of an Amplitude-integrated EEG Monitor (Cerebral Function Monitor) to Neonates
Published on: September 6, 2017
Continuous EEG monitoring in the neonatal intensive care unit
Bláthnaid McCoy1, Cecil D Hahn
1Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Insights
Continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring is crucial for detecting non-obvious seizures in critically ill neonates. This method aids in prognostication and monitoring neurologic status in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Clinical neurophysiology
Background:
- Neonatal seizures are common and linked to poor outcomes.
- Most neonatal seizures are clinically undetectable without EEG.
- Continuous EEG monitoring is vital for critically ill neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the incidence and risk factors of neonatal seizures.
- To evaluate the utility of continuous EEG in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
- To discuss prognostication using EEG background and amplitude-integrated EEG.
Main Methods:
- Review of incidence and risk factors for neonatal seizures.
- Analysis of continuous EEG monitoring for seizure detection.
- Assessment of EEG background for prognostication.
- Consideration of amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG).
Main Results:
- Continuous EEG accurately identifies subclinical seizures in neonates.
- EEG background abnormalities correlate with mortality and neurodevelopmental risks.
- aEEG offers a simplified approach to EEG monitoring in neonates.
Conclusions:
- Continuous EEG is essential for managing critically ill neonates.
- EEG monitoring aids in early detection and prognostication.
- New developments enhance the utility of continuous EEG in NICUs.
Abstract:
Continuous EEG monitoring provides an opportunity to both accurately identify seizures and monitor the neurologic status of critically ill neonates in the intensive care unit. The incidence of seizures is higher in the neonatal period than at any other time in life. Seizures and abnormalities of EEG background are associated with significant risk of mortality and long-term neurodevelopmental morbidities. In the neonatal population the majority of seizures are not clinically evident and go undetected without EEG monitoring. We review the incidence and risk factors for neonatal seizures, and the utility of continuous EEG monitoring in the neonatal intensive care unit for seizure detection and for analysis of background to allow prognostication. We consider the role of amplitude-integrated EEG in the neonatal population. We consider the utility of continuous EEG for frequently encountered neurologic indications and discuss the outcome data and some new developments in continuous EEG monitoring.
