Significations du trace discontinu chez le nouveau-ne a terme

Summary This article is devoted to a consideration of the clinical prognostic significance of “trace discontinu”. The authors first distinguish “trace discontinu” from the “trace paroxystique” and “trace alternant” patterns in the newborn. The distinction is very important. The bad prognosis of the “trace paroxystique” is well known, but prognosis of the “trace discontinu” seems to be different. If the “trace discontinu” is permanent, there was a 50% favourable outcome in our 22 newborn babies brought to the reanimation department. If some continuous activity can be observed: beginning of sleep organisation, then the prognosis seems to be better: 61% of our cases. As blood levels of anticonvulsants are rarely measured it seems difficult, given our present knowledge, to appreciate anticonvulsive drug effects on EEG recordings. Thus 3 aims should be pointed out: o - Measurements of anticonvulsant blood level each time a “trace discontinu” is observed in a treated newborn. - Early EEG recordings of sufficient duration to obtain eventually some continuous tracing. - Correct differentiation between “trace paroxystique” and “trace discontinu” for the clinician: “trace discontinu” in a full-term newborn should never allow the paediatrician to stop treatment.