Amplitude integrated electroencephalography
| Amplitude integrated electroencephalography | |
|---|---|
 A normal CFM trace in a term infant who is several days old. The amplitude-integrated trace is in the top half of the screen displaying left- and right-sided traces. There is a normal baseline and upper limit, sleep-wake cycling, and no seizures. | |
| Purpose | monitoring brain function in intensive care |
Amplitude integrated electroencephalography (aEEG), cerebral function monitoring (CFM) or continuous electroencephalogram (CEEG) is a technique for monitoring brain function in
seizures or suppressed brain activity.[1] aEEG is useful especially in neonatology where it can be used to aid in diagnosis of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
, and to monitor and diagnose seizure activity.
Interpretation of the aEEG
The CFM readout offers an integrated trace in one pane and a non-integrated trace in another pane (see image). Modern machines give a readout for each
sleep wake cycling' whereby the trace is expected to narrow and broaden over time. Seizures appear on the trace as regions of high activity with a raised and compacted trace in the aEEG pane; this would correspond to high-amplitude, repetitive waveforms in the non-integrated pane. A low-amplitude or 'suppressed' trace is prognostically concerning as it indicates abnormally low brain activity. A further possible pattern is a 'burst suppression' trace which consists of a low-amplitude signal interspersed with periods of high activity on the aEEG readout. This also carries a poor prognosis.[2]
See also
- Electroencephalogram(EEG)
- Bispectral index
- Epileptic seizure
- Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy
- Therapeutic hypothermia
- Pressure reactivity index
- Neonatal seizure
