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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 May;111(5):916-926.
doi: 10.1111/apa.16251. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

aEEG vs cEEG's sensivity for seizure detection in the setting of neonatal intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Raffaele Falsaperla  1 , Bruna Scalia  1 , Fabiola Giaccone  2 , Agnese Suppiej  3 , Alfredo Pulvirenti  4 , Janette Mailo  5 , Martino Ruggieri  6
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

aEEG vs cEEG's sensivity for seizure detection in the setting of neonatal intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Raffaele Falsaperla et al. Acta Paediatr. 2022 May.

Abstract

Aim: Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG)'s accuracy compared to conventional electroencephalography (cEEG) has not been fully established. The aim of our study was to conduct a systematic review on the sensitivity of the aEEG for neonatal seizure detection.

Methods: Studies from PubMed and Google Scholar databases comparing recordings of cEEG and aEEG in newborns were included according to the PRISMA method. A quality assessment using the QUADAS-2 tool was provided. A random-effect model was used to account for different sources of variations among studies. Publication biases were represented by a funnel plot, and funnel plot symmetry was assessed.

Results: Fourteen studies were reported; sensitivity of each diagnostic tool used (single-channel aEEG, two-channel aEEG, two-channel aEEG plus raw trace EEG) was compared to that of the gold-standard cEEG and to those of the other methods used. Overall sensitivity of the aEEG ranged from 31.25% to 90%.

Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that sensitivity of aEEG varies significantly and that seizure detection rate is lower than that of cEEG. The two-channel aEEG with raw trace EEG shows a high sensitivity and might represent a valid alternative to the cEEG in the setting of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Keywords: CFM; EEG monitoring; electroencephalography; neonatal seizures; sensitivity; specificity.

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References

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