Investigation of EEG Activity Compared with Mean Arterial Blood Pressure in Extremely Preterm Infants

Cerebral electrical activity in extremely preterm infants is affected by various factors including blood gas and circulatory parameters.

To investigate whether continuously measured invasive mean arterial blood pressure (BP) is associated with electroencephalographic (EEG) discontinuity in extremely preterm infants.

This prospective observational study examined 51 newborn infants born <29 weeks gestation in the first 3 days after birth. A single channel of raw EEG was used to quantify discontinuity. Mean BP was acquired using continuous invasive measurement and Doppler ultrasound was used to measure left ventricular output (LVO) and common carotid artery blood flow (CCAF).

Median gestation and birthweight were 25.6 weeks and 760 g, respectively. Mean discontinuity reduced significantly between days 1 and 3. EEG discontinuity was significantly related to gestation, pH and BP. LVO and CCAF were not associated with EEG discontinuity.

Continuously measured invasive mean arterial BP was found to have a negative relationship with EEG discontinuity; increasing BP was associated with lower EEG discontinuity. This did not appear to be mediated by surrogates of systemic or cerebral blood flow. Infants receiving inotropic support had significantly increased EEG discontinuity on the first day after birth.