Lack of influence of mild hypothermia on amplitude integrated-electroencephalography in neonates receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

• Published in: Early human development Vol. 83; no. 2; pp. 69 - 75
• Main Authors: Horan, Marie, Azzopardi, Denis, Edwards, A. David, Firmin, Richard K, Field, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.02.2007; New York,NY Elsevier; Amsterdam
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Amplitude integrated-electroencephalography; Biological and medical sciences; Body Temperature; Electroencephalography - statistics & numerical data; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation - adverse effects; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation - methods; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hypothermia; Hypothermia, Induced - adverse effects; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain - etiology; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain - prevention & control; Infant, Newborn; Male; Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine; Neonates; Statistics, Nonparametric; Neonates; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Amplitude integrated-electroencephalography; Hypothermia; Human; Electrophysiology; Electroencephalography; Oxygenation
• ISSN: 0378-3782; 1872-6232
• DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2006.05.004

Abstract Objective To observe amplitude integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) in neonates receiving ECMO and to determine whether mild hypothermia influenced the aEEG recording. Methods Twenty-six consecutive neonates enrolled in a pilot study of mild hypothermia during ECMO were studied. The first group ( N = 6) was maintained at 37 °C throughout the study period. Subsequent groups were cooled to 36 °C ( N = 4), 35 °C ( N = 5), and finally 34 °C ( N = 6) respectively for 24 h and the final group ( N = 5) to 34 °C for 48 h before being rewarmed to 37 °C. The aEEG was recorded continuously during the first 5 days of ECMO. The aEEG was classified as normal, moderately or severely suppressed and examined for the occurrence of seizures. To assess the effect of temperature, the aEEG was compared over 12 h during the final 6 h of cooling and during the first 6 h once infants were rewarmed. Results No change in aEEG amplitude was noted over the temperature range studied. Of the 26 traces obtained, 16 (62%) were normal throughout, 6 (23%) were intermittently moderately abnormal and 1 (14%) was severely abnormal. Three (11%) traces had periods of frequent seizure activity and these were not associated with clinical manifestations in two neonates. In one infant who suffered a cerebral haemorrhage, the aEEG became abnormal before cranial ultrasound abnormalities were apparent. Conclusions Continuous cerebral monitoring with aEEG is feasible during ECMO and may add information to clinical examination. Mild hypothermia to 34 °C for up to 48 h does not influence the aEEG suggesting that cerebral monitoring with aEEG is possible during mild hypothermia.