Neonatal seizures during extra corporeal membrane oxygenation support

To evaluate EEG monitoring during neonatal ECMO and to identify any correlations between seizure detection to abnormal neuroimaging. Eight-year, service evaluation of neonates who received at least one continuous EEG (cEEG) whilst on ECMO at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Pearson’s chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to assess clinical and EEG variables association with seizures and neuroimaging findings. Fifty-seven neonates were studied; 57 cEEG recordings were reviewed. The incidence of seizures was 33% (19/57); of these 74% (14/19) were electrographic-only. The incidence of status epilepticus was 42%, (8/19 with 6 neonates having electrographic-only status and 2 electro-clinical status. Seizures were detected within an hour of recording in 84%, (16/19). The overall mortality rate was 39% (22/57). Seizure detection was strongly associated with female gender (OR 4.8, 95% CI: 1.1–20.4, p = 0.03 ), abnormal EEG background activity (OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.1–7.4, p = 0.03 ) and abnormal EEG focal features (OR 23.6, 95% CI: 5.4–103.9, p = 0.001 ). There was a strong association between the presence of seizures and abnormal neuroimaging findings (OR 10.9, 95% CI: 2.8–41.9, p = 0.001 ). Neonates were highly likely to have abnormal neuroimaging findings in the presence of severely abnormal background EEG (OR 9.5, 95% CI 1.7–52.02, p = 0.01) and focal EEG abnormalities (OR 6.35, 95% CI 1.97–20.5, p = 0.002) Conclusion : The study highlights the importance of cEEG in neonates undergoing ECMO. An association between seizure detection and abnormal neuroimaging findings was described. What is Known: • Patients on ECMO are at a higher risk of seiures . • Continuous EEG monitoring is recommended by the ACNS for high risk and ECMO patients . What is New: • In this cohort, neonates with sezirues were 11 times more likely of having abnromal neuroimaging findings . • Neonates with burst suppressed or suppressed EEG background were 9.5 times more likely to have abnormal neuroimaging findings . What does this study add? • This study reports a 33% incidence of neonatal seizures during ECMO. • Neonates with seizures were 11 times more likely to have an abnormal brain scan. • The study captures the real-time approach of EEG monitoring. • Recommended cEEG monitoring should last at least 24 h for ECMO patients. • This is the first study to assess this in neonates only.