Changes in cerebral hemodynamics and amplitude integrated EEG in an asphyxiated newborn during and after cool cap treatment

Abstract

Amplitude integrated EEG (aEEG) and Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) were applied in a newborn with a moderate hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy before, during and after brain cooling. At 2h of life a selective head cooling with mild systemic hypothermia was started and maintained for 72h. aEEG background pattern improved from severely abnormal to normal during the first 17h of life. NIRS revealed a reduction in cerebral blood volume (CBV) during hypothermia that recovered during the rewarming period, whereas brain oxygenation remained stable. As brain cooling is supposed to reduce delayed hyperemia and help to maintain neuronal metabolism following cerebral insults, aEEG and NIRS monitoring may be useful during hypothermic treatment in order to document changes in CBV and brain oxygenation possibly reflecting the efficacy of hypothermia.