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Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Application of an Amplitude-integrated EEG Monitor Cerebral Function Monitor to Neonates
Published on: September 6, 2017
Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography shows mild delays in electrocortical activity in preterm infants born
E Griesmaier1, C Burger1, E Ralser1
1Department of Pediatrics II, Neonatology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
Insights
Very preterm infants born small for gestational age (SGA) show normal amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) maturation but mild delays in electrocortical activity compared to appropriate size for gestational age (AGA) infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Neurophysiology
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) face increased risks for long-term neurologic deficits.
- Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) is a valuable tool for monitoring brain activity in preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare aEEG signal characteristics between very preterm infants born SGA and age-matched appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants.
- To investigate potential differences in electrocortical activity maturation related to SGA status.
Main Methods:
- Serial aEEG recordings were performed on 305 very preterm infants (50 SGA, 255 AGA).
- Analysis focused on burst frequency, Burdjalov score, and background patterns over time.
Main Results:
- The number of bursts per hour decreased over time in both groups but remained higher in SGA infants, particularly on day one (17.4 vs 10.1, p=0.016).
- While the Burdjalov score tended to be lower in SGA infants, this did not reach statistical significance.
- Continuous background patterns increased with post-natal age similarly in both SGA and AGA groups.
Conclusions:
- Very preterm infants born SGA exhibit normal aEEG signal maturation but demonstrate mild delays in electrocortical activity compared to AGA peers.
- Further research is needed to determine the neurodevelopmental outcome predictive value of these aEEG findings in SGA infants.
Aim:
Being born small for gestational age (SGA) seems to be a relevant risk factor for long-term neurologic deficits. We compared the differences between amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) signals in very preterm infants born small for gestational age (SGA) and those in age-matched infants born appropriate size for gestational age (AGA).
Methods:
We performed serial aEEG recording on 305 infants: 255 (83.6%) were AGA, and 50 (16.3%) were SGA.
Results:
The number of bursts per hour decreased over time in both groups, but was higher in the SGA group at every time point. On day one, it was significantly higher in the SGA group (17.4) than in the AGA group (10.1) (p = 0.016). The total Burdjalov score increased with post-natal age and tended to be lower in SGA infants, but did not reach statistical significance at any time point. The percentage of continuous background patterns increased with post-natal age in both groups, with no significant difference between the groups.
Conclusion:
Very preterm infants born SGA showed normal maturation of aEEG signals during post-natal life, but they also showed mild delays in electrocortical activity compared to age-matched AGA infants. The predictive value of these findings on neurodevelopmental outcome needs to be further evaluated.
