Pediatric and Neonatal EEG Flashcards
6 cards from real EEG practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Pediatric and Neonatal EEG flashcards as text
Delta brushes in neonatal EEG are a normal developmental pattern seen at what gestational age range?
Answer: 26-38 weeks conceptional age
Delta brushes (delta waves with superimposed fast 18-22 Hz activity) are a normal developmental pattern seen from approximately 26 to 38 weeks conceptional age, most prominent at 32-34 weeks, and diminish as the brain matures.
Interhemispheric synchrony in neonatal EEG refers to the simultaneous occurrence of bursts of activity in both hemispheres. By what conceptional age should synchrony be well established?
Answer: 36 weeks
Interhemispheric synchrony develops gradually and should be well established by 36 weeks conceptional age. Persistent asynchrony beyond this age is abnormal and may indicate callosal or diffuse cerebral pathology.
In neonatal EEG, what does the term 'dysmature' pattern refer to?
Answer: An EEG pattern that appears normal but for a younger conceptional age than the infant's actual age, suggesting delayed brain maturation
A dysmature EEG pattern shows features appropriate for a younger conceptional age than the infant's actual age, indicating delayed cerebral maturation which may result from prematurity complications, hypoxic-ischemic injury, or other insults.
Modified neonatal montages differ from standard adult montages primarily by:
Answer: Using fewer electrodes with adjusted placement for the smaller head size and including polygraphic channels for behavioral state assessment
Neonatal montages use fewer electrodes (typically 9-11 EEG channels) adapted for the small head, modified placement to cover areas of clinical importance, and include polygraphic channels (EMG, EOG, ECG, respiration) essential for state assessment.
Neonatal seizures on EEG differ from adult seizures in that they:
Answer: Are often focal, brief, fragmentary, and may migrate between regions without clear generalization
Neonatal seizures are characteristically focal (reflecting immature interhemispheric connections), brief, may migrate between brain regions, and frequently occur without visible clinical manifestation (subclinical seizures).
Amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) is widely used in neonatal intensive care because it:
Answer: Offers a simplified, compressed display that allows bedside clinicians to quickly assess brain function trends and detect seizures over hours to days
Amplitude-integrated EEG compresses hours of EEG data into a trend display showing voltage amplitude over time, enabling NICU bedside staff to monitor brain function continuously and detect significant changes including seizures, even without specialized EEG training.