The Use of EEG and aEEG in Assessing the Term and Preterm Brain

EEG (electroencephalography) and aEEG (amplitude-integrated EEG) are valuable objective tools for assessing neonatal brain function. Conventional video-EEG is the “gold standard” for seizure detection, but aEEG may be used as a screening device as well as to diagnose seizures in settings where conventional EEG may not be available. Both modalities provide the ability to perform continuous monitoring and thus enable users to objectively evaluate the impact of prematurity and critical illness on the vulnerable neonatal brain, as well as to provide diagnostic and prognostic information that may facilitate management and decision-making. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of EEG tools, including the neurophysiological basis of EEG, technical foundations, indications, and interpretation.