Early abnormal amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) is associated with adverse short-term outcome in premature infants.

Background: In preterm infants with IVH the electrocortical background activity is affected and there is a correlation between the severity of cerebral injury to the degree of depression, however the usefulness of the early aEEG recordings has hardly been determined.

Aim: To identify early aEEG features that could be used as prognostic markers for severe brain injury in prematures.

Methods: In 115 infants, 25-32 wk GA, aEEG recordings during the first 72 h of life were correlated with head ultrasound findings.

The influence of extrauterine life on the aEEG maturation in normal preterm infants.

Objective: To study, the maturational changes of the amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) in preterm infants without neurological disorders and especially the influence of the duration of extrauterine life, over this process.

Methods: 96 preterm infants, 25-34weeks' gestational age (GA) at birth, clinically stable and without ultrasonographic evidence of neurological abnormalities, were studied. The aEEG recordings were obtained within 72 h of life and then weekly until discharge.