The power of N-PASS, aEEG, and BIS in detecting different levels of sedation in neonates: A preliminary study.

Background: Sedatives are essential drugs in every intensive care unit in order to ensure the patient's optimal level of comfort. Avoiding conditions of over- and under-sedation is a challenge in a neonatal intensive care setting. Drug administration could be optimized by the concomitant use of objective methods to assess the level of sedation.

Bispectral index and lower margin amplitude of the amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram in neonates.

Background: The lower margin amplitude (LMA) of the amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) is suppressed in neonates during deep sedation, a feature that is attributed to the bispectral index (BIS) in adults.

Objective: We compare the BIS and the LMA of the aEEG in neonates.

Methods: Thirty neurologically healthy neonates between 37 and 44 weeks postmenstrual age were included in this study.

Successful implementation of a neonatal pain and sedation protocol at 2 NICUs.

Objective: To evaluate the implementation of a neonatal pain and sedation protocol at 2 ICUs.

Methods: The intervention started with the evaluation of local practice, problems, and staff satisfaction. We then developed and implemented the Vienna Protocol for Neonatal Pain and Sedation.

Can neurophysiological assessment improve timing of intervention in posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation?

Objective: Intraventricular haemorrhage is still the most common cause of brain lesion in preterm infants and development of a posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) can lead to additional neurological sequelae. Flash visual evoked potentials (fVEP) and amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) are non-invasive neurophysiological monitoring tools. The aim of the study was to evaluate fVEPs and aEEGs in preterm infants with progressive PHVD prior to and after neurosurgical intervention for cerebrospinal fluid removal and to correlate the findings with severity of ventricular dilatation.