title: Neonatal seizure recognition--comparative study of continuous-amplitude integrated EEG versus short conventional EEG recordings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to detect seizures by amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (EEG) (aEEG) as compared with conventional EEG (cEEG) by clinicians with different levels of expertise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Simultaneous 10 min aEEG/cEEG recordings were time-locked and assessed for seizure activity. aEEG was assessed by a neonatologist, a fellow and a medical student and cEEG by two child neurologists and a neonatologist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 265 paired epochs from 38 simultaneous recording were assessed. Forty-one seizure episodes were diagnosed in 31 epochs in the cEEG recordings of 10 infants. Sensitivity and specificity ranged from 68% to 84% and from 71% to 84%, respectively, per detection of epochs with seizures and from 71% to 84% and from 36% to 96% per detection of individual seizures. No agreement was found between the observations of the student, and those of the fellow or neonatologist. Substantial agreement was found between the fellow and neonatologist. Before cEEG was commenced, seizures were detected by aEEG in 22 infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  aEEG has high sensitivity and specificity in the hands of experienced users. Inexperienced new users may have a high rate of misdiagnosed seizures. Early recording of high-risk infants can help in the early diagnosis and treatment of seizures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosis and treatment of seizures in aEEG should be carried out by experienced users and should be supplemented with cEEG when available.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Nofrat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frenkel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friger
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meledin
authors.forename: Itai
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Kyla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bassan
authors.forename: Eilon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shany
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000145:classification* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants