The value of standard electroencephalograms in the evaluation of the newborn with recurrent apneas.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of the standard electroencephalograms in the evaluation of prematurely born infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit with recurrent apneas and bradycardias. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. RESULTS: During the study period, 94 infants were evaluated for seizure activity. Twenty of these were prematurely born infants with recurrent apneas and bradycardias without clinically recognized seizures. The recordings were entirely normal in 10 cases, and in 9 showed interictal epileptiform discharges in excess of or in atypical locations than those expected for the gestational age at the time of the investigation. One had an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern with episodes of generalized flattening occurring repeatedly throughout the entire recording. None had electrographic seizures. All infants were free of sepsis and gastroesophageal reflux and all had normal biochemistry at the time of the EEG recordings. CONCLUSION: In our study, routine EEG was not found to be useful in the investigation and management of prematurely born infants with recurrent apneas not associated with clinically recognized seizure activity.