The Effect of Blood Glucose and pCO₂ on Spectral EEG of Premature Infants during the First Three Days of Life

Abstract

Background: Spectral EEG analysis using automated quantification of total absolute band power (tABP) expresses brain function. We hypothesized that pCO₂ or blood glucose affects tABP during the critical first days of life in premature infants. Objective: To use automated tABP quantification to determine whether EEG background activity in premature infants during the first 3 days of life is influenced by pCO₂ or blood glucose levels. Methods: Preterm infants, group 1 [gestational age (GA) = 24-27 weeks] and group 2 (GA = 28-30 weeks), underwent continuous EEG monitoring for 3 days after birth. Biochemical data were extracted from the observational datasheet used during monitoring. Blood samples were taken at the request of the attending physician. Statistical analyses were performed as repeated measurements using linear mixed models with a random intercept. The effect of time was treated as a fixed covariate and the GA groups as a fixed factor in all models. Continuous data were described using the mean ± SD or median and range, and categorical data were described using the number of patients and percentages unless otherwise indicated. Results: There was an association between increased pCO₂ and tABP and between increased blood glucose and tABP. Further, there were no differences in the responses between groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: Both hyperglycemia and hypercapnia showed a negative effect on brain activity decreasing tABP during the first 3 days of life in premature infants.

Early spectral EEG in preterm infants correlates with neurocognitive outcomes in late childhood

“…We refer to previously published papers for more details regarding the study population and EEG technique. 19 , 20 …”

Abrupt Suppression of Electroencephalographic Activity Due to Acute Hypercapnic Event Under Cardiopulmonary Bypass Detected by the NeuroSENSE Depth-of-Anesthesia Monitor

“…Various authors have demonstrated the effects of CO 2 on EEG activity, such as appearance of delta waves, which is a hallmark of slow wave sleep and deep anesthesia. [9][10][11][12] Otherwise, acute hypercapnia causes significant alpha and beta wave power diminution, whereas theta waves remain unchanged. 11,13 The EEG expression of hypercapnia could be the consequence of CO 2 narcotic properties or hypercapnia-induced neurologic abnormalities, such as intracerebral pH depression and extracellular adenosine augmentation, which has been shown to inhibit the synaptic transmission.…”

The suppression curve as a quantitative approach for measuring brain maturation in preterm infants

“…Furthermore, EEG measurements were performed after the first 72h. Recent reports show that EEG dynamics changes substantially over the first 72h after birth (Schumacher et al, 2014;Victor et al, 2005b, West et al, 2006. In this study, EEG measurements were performed after the first 72h in order to have stable brain dynamics at the respective age groups.…”