[Prognostic value of the EEG in pre-term and full-term babies (author's transl)]

Looking for long-term prognostic value of the neonatal EEG, 545 records from 125 children in the pre-term and full-term period have been checked for special criterias: 1. Periods of electrocerebral inactivity (with usual amplifier gain) 2. Relative amplitude reduction over one of the hemispheres or localized 3. Focal changes 4. Epileptic activity: focal, multifocal and generalized. 5. Unspecific rhythm of alpha- and epsilon-frequency, which can not be classified as epileptic seizure pattern. According to the pronounciation of these criterias the EEG records were classified as severely, medium, severely, moderately abnormal and as normal. Comparison was done with the results of the last control EEG and the last clinical control examination. The principal results are: 1. Children with severe EEG abnormalities have a high mortality rate (about 70%). Long periods of electrocerebral inactivity are more unfavourable quoad vitam than epileptic discharges. 2. Late sequelae as cerebral palsy, psychomotor retardation and epilepsy are to be expected in all children with severe EEG abnormalities remaining alive and in many children with medium severe EEG abnormalities. 3. The rate of normal psychomotor development increases with the decrease of EEG abnormalities. It is important to mention: 1. EEG records in the first hours and days after birth give the best information regarding a long-term prognosis. 2. In children remaining alive and not developing hypsarrhythmia the observation interval must be more than one year for an estimation of probable electroencephalographic and clinical outcome.