Affiliations: Department of Neonatology, Children's National Medical
Center, Washington DC, USA | Department of Newborn Services, The George Washington
University Medical Center, Washington DC, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: An N. Massaro, MD, Assistant Professor of
Pediatrics, The GWU School of Medicine, Department of Neonatology, Children's
National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20010, USA.
Tel.: +1 202 884 5225; Fax: +1 202 884 3459; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Objective: To describe our experience with the use of aEEG as a
measure of brain maturity in preterm neonates involved in a randomized
controlled trial of infant massage. Study design: This is a prospective observational study from a
subset of patients who were recruited in a randomized controlled trial
evaluating the effects of massage in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants.
Infants included in this report had an aEEG recording at 34 weeks
post-menstrual age (PMA). aEEG recordings were evaluated by an investigator who
was blinded to subjects' clinical history and study group. Each infant was
assigned scores for continuity, sleep wake cycling, amplitude of lower border,
bandwidth span, and overall aEEG maturation. Differences in scores between
intervention and control groups are described. Results: Twenty-six VLBW infants had aEEG recordings at 34
weeks PMA; 13 who received massage and 13 in the control group. Twenty three
percent of patients in the control group had a somewhat discontinuous aEEG,
whereas all patients in the intervention group had a continuous aEEG. Overall
maturation scores were delayed in 15% of massage group vs. 38% in control
group. Both groups had similar sleep-wake cycle patterns. Conclusion: aEEG may be a useful tool to evaluate
interventions hypothesized to have neurobehavioral effects on preterm infants
such as massage therapy. Further studies that evaluate aEEG maturation and
other neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates exposed to preterm infant massage
are needed.
Keywords: Massage, electroencephalogram, aEEG, development
