Obstetric characteristics and fetal heart rate patterns of infants who convulse during the newborn period

Abstract

Seizure activity in the immediate neonatal period has been shown to correlate with long-term neurological handicap. The perinatal course of 34 term and 32 preterm infants who developed seizure activity in the neonatal period was compared to that of 66 matched control infants without neonatal seizure activity. The incidence of antenatal complications and abnormal fetal heart rate patterns and the percentages of abnormal labor, operative delivery, and low Apgar scores were significantly greater in the study infants than in the control infants. Earlier onset of seizure activity was seen in term versus preterm infants and term infants with abnormal versus normal fetal heart rate patterns. Management decisions regarding intervention or nonintervention based on fetal heart rate patterns were deemed appropriate in 31 of 34 term infants, yet short- and long-term neurological sequelae were significant.