Abstract
The early diagnosis of brain damage is stil an important problem and there is a lack of methods which can be used. Recordings of spontaneous electric activity provide no reliable information on the risk of damage after perinatal asphyxia. We try to use evoked EEG responses (ER) for these purposes. Preliminary results were already reported. Material and Method: This paper is based on 198 examinations in 90 neonates and infants with different degree of perinatal asphyxia. Visual evoked responses (VER) and photic driving (PD) were recorded in all of them, Somatosensory responses (SER) in 47 patients. More severe cases were examined several times. EEG was recorded bipolarly from corresponding projection areas and from vertex and averaged on a PDP 12 Digital computer. As stimuli light flashes and electrical pulses applied to n. medianus were used. Results: A number of alterations of ERs was observed. Most important were increased latencies and abnormal patterns of VERs, bad or absent PD and alterations of SERs. In order to express the findings in a quantitative manner a scoring system was devised. The total riskscore correlated well with the degree of asphyxia and with the prognosis. Almost all the infants with a permanent high riskscore developed symptoms of brain damage after a clinically silent period. Conclusion: Recording of ERs is a very usefull objective method for early diagnosis of brain damage after perinatal asphyxia.
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Hrbek, A., Karlberg, P., Kjellmer, I. et al. EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF BRAIN DAMAGE AFTER PERINATAL ASPHYXIA BY MEANS OF EVOKED EEG RESPONSES. Pediatr Res 13, 77 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197901000-00046
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197901000-00046
