The Clinical Value of Amplitude-Integrated Electroencephalography in a Historical Cohort with Neonatal Encephalopathy: A Comparison of Short-Term Versus Prolonged-Period Monitoring

Background To compare the amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) monitoring (short-term versus prolonged-period) for neonatal seizure detection and outcome. Methods The aEEG monitoring in a historical cohort (n = 88, preterm:42, and term:46) with neonatal encephalopathy between 2010–2022 was re-evaluated for neonatal seizures (electrographic, electro-clinical, and clinical seizures) and EEG background scoring. The cohort was dichotomized: group I (short-period with 6–12 h, n = 36) and group II (prolonged-period with 24–48 h, n = 52). Both monitoring types were evaluated for the diagnostic accuracy of the “patients with seizures” and for outcome characteristics (early death as well as adverse outcomes at 12 months of age). Results A total of 67 (76 %) neonates of the cohort were diagnosed as “patients with seizures”: electrographic-only seizures in 10 (15 %), electro-clinical seizures in 22 (33 %), and clinical-only seizures in 35 (52 %). The aEEG provides the “patients with seizures” in neonates with a 36.5 % rate with both types of monitoring: 17/36 (47.2 %) with short-term and 15/52 (28.8 %) with prolonged-period monitoring. The prolonged period aEEG had higher diagnostic values for seizure detection (sensitivity = 0.73 and negative predictivity value = 0.81). However, the aEEG background scores were similar for both types of aEEG monitoring, respectively (the mean ± SD: 4.73 ± 2.9 versus 4.4 ± 4. p = 0.837). The aEEG scoring was correlated with the magnitude of brain injury documented with MRI, the early death, and the adverse outcome at 12 months of age. Conclusions Both aEEG types are valuable for monitoring the “patients with seizures” and outcome characteristics.