Abstract
Objective: To describe our experience with the use of aEEG as a measure of brain maturity in preterm neonates involved in a randomized controlled trial of infant massage.
Study design: This is a prospective observational study from a subset of patients who were recruited in a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of massage in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants. Infants included in this report had an aEEG recording at 34 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA). aEEG recordings were evaluated by an investigator who was blinded to subjects' clinical history and study group. Each infant was assigned scores for continuity, sleep wake cycling, amplitude of lower border, bandwidth span, and overall aEEG maturation. Differences in scores between intervention and control groups are described.
Results: Twenty-six VLBW infants had aEEG recordings at 34 weeks PMA; 13 who received massage and 13 in the control group. Twenty three percent of patients in the control group had a somewhat discontinuous aEEG, whereas all patients in the intervention group had a continuous aEEG. Overall maturation scores were delayed in 15% of massage group vs. 38% in control group. Both groups had similar sleep-wake cycle patterns.
Conclusion: aEEG may be a useful tool to evaluate interventions hypothesized to have neurobehavioral effects on preterm infants such as massage therapy. Further studies that evaluate aEEG maturation and other neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates exposed to preterm infant massage are needed.