Electroencephalogram abnormalities in full term infants with history of severe asphyxia

Abstract

ingtool used to determine developmental and electrical problemsin the brain. A history of severe asphyxia is a risk factor for thesebrain problems in infants.Objective To evaluate the prevalence of abnormal EEGs infull term neonates and to assess for an association with severeasphyxia, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and spontaneousdelivery.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at thePediatric Outpatient Department of Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar,from November 2013 to January 2014. Subjects were fullterminfants aged 1 month who were delivered and/or hospitalized atSanglah Hospital. All subjects underwent EEG. The EEGs wereinterpreted by a pediatric neurology consultant, twice, with aweek interval between readings. Clinical data were obtainedfrom medical records. Association between abnormal ECG andsevere asphyxia were analyzed by Chi-square and multivariablelogistic analyses.Results Of 55 subjects, 27 had a history of severe asphyxia and 28were vigorous babies. Forty percent (22/55) of subjects had abnormalEEG findings, 19/22 of these subjects having history of severeasphyxia, 15/22 had history of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE), and 20/22 were delievered vaginally. There were strongcorrelations between the prevalence of abnormal EEG and historyof severe asphyxia, HIE, and spontaneous delivery.Conclusion Prevalence of abnormal EEG among full-term neonatesreferred to neurology/growth development clinic is around40%, with most of them having a history of severe asphyxia. AbnormalEEG is significantly associated to severe asphyxia, HIE, andspontaneous delivery.