Heart rate changes are insensitive for detecting postasphyxial seizures in neonates.
We studied heart rate (HR) changes during 169 seizures (mean 12 per patient, range 8 to 18) in 14 neonates with severe birth asphyxia. HR changes were found in 21 seizures (12.4%) in eight patients (HR increases in four, decreases in one, and both patterns in three patients), suggesting the existence of neonatal cerebral hemispheric connections with brainstem autonomic regulatory centers. HR monitoring appears to be insensitive for detecting postasphyxial neonatal seizures.
Cherian
P J
PJ
Erasmus MC, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.perumpillichira@erasmusmc.nl
Blok
J H
JH
Swarte
R M
RM
Govaert
P
P
Visser
G H
GH
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity