The influence of extrauterine life on the aEEG maturation in normal preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
To study, the maturational changes of the amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) in preterm infants without neurological disorders and especially the influence of the duration of extrauterine life, over this process.


METHODS
96 preterm infants, 25-34weeks' gestational age (GA) at birth, clinically stable and without ultrasonographic evidence of neurological abnormalities, were studied. The aEEG recordings were obtained within 72 h of life and then weekly until discharge. Four aspects of each tracing (continuity, sleep-wake cycling, bandwidth, and lower border), were evaluated by visual analysis, applying pre-established criteria.


RESULTS
We analysed 624 aEEG recordings at postmenstrual age (PMA) of 25-42weeks. With advanced GA the aEEG becomes more continuous (p: 0.022), it displays definite sleep-wake cycles (p: 0.011), and its bandwidth acquires the mature pattern (p: 0.012). A positive significant interaction of GA and PMA in the evolution of aEEG was found regarding continuity (p: 0.002), sleep-wake cycling (p: 0.002), and bandwidth (p: 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The evolution of the aEEG tracing depends on both GA and PMA. The older the infants at birth the more mature the aEEG pattern. At the same PMA, preterm infants of lower GA display an advanced maturation of the aEEG comparing with others of higher GA.
Soubasi
Vassiliki
V
1st Department of Neonatology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. soubasi@med.auth.gr
Mitsakis
Konstantinos
K
Nakas
Christos T
CT
Petridou
Stella
S
Sarafidis
Kosmas
K
Griva
Myrsini
M
Agakidou
Eleni
E
Drossou
Vassiliki
V
D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D019369:Life; D036801:Parturition / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology