J Korean Epilepsy Soc.  2007 Dec;11(2):75-84.

Neonatal EEG

• Hwang H
• Kim KJ

Abstract

Neonatal electroencephalogram (EEG) is a useful and sensitive tool to evaluate the degree of neurological insult in neonate. However, Clinical significances of its compositions is still explored, and it often causes physician a difficulty in interpretation of neonatal EEG. The most important factor in interpreting neonatal EEG is to consider a gestational age of the patient. All preterm and term neonates physiologically show ontogenic maturations in background activity of the EEG. Continuity, symmetry, and synchronicity are three major determinants of this ontogenic maturations. In neonatal period, some physiological sharp transients are easily misunderstood as epileptiform discharges unless physician have sufficient experiences of neonatal EEG. Background abnormalities are relative and indirect indicators for neonatal seizure in case of absence of electrical signature, however, video-EEG monitoring is recently much more recommended due to its uncertainty. In conclusion, neonatal EEG is useful in evaluating gestational age of patient, the degree of neurological insult, and detecting neonatal seizure. However, neonatal EEG is an independent and complicated domain of pediatric EEG so that its interpretation requires special efforts to physicians.

Keyword

Neonatal electroencephalogram; Gestational age

MeSH Terms

Electroencephalography*
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Seizures
Uncertainty