Clinical applications of cerebral function monitoring in neonates

The cerebral function monitor is a device for trend monitoring of changes in the amplitude of the electroencephalogram, typically recorded from one or two pairs of electrodes. Initially developed and introduced to monitor cerebral activity in encephalopathic adult patients or during anaesthesia, it is now most widely used in newborns to assess the severity of encephalopathy and for determining prognosis. The duration and severity of abnormalities of the amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram tracing is highly predictive of subsequent neurologic outcome following neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, including in newborns receiving neuroprotective treatment with prolonged moderate hypothermia. The cerebral function monitor is also used for seizure detection and to monitor response to anticonvulsant therapies. Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography compares well with standard electroencephalography when used to assess the severity of neonatal encephalopathy, but a standard electroencephalogram is still required to provide important information about changes in frequency, and in the synchrony and distribution and other characteristics of cerebral cortical activity. The role of the amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram to identify brain injury in preterm infants remains to be determined.