CEREBRAL FUNCTION MONITORING - A METHOD OF PREDICTING OUTCOME IN TERMNEONATES AFTER SEVERE PERINATAL ASPHYXIA

The cerebral function monitor (CFM), a simplified one-channel EEG moni tor, was evaluated in predicting outcome after severe perinatal asphyx ia in 38 term infants. Survivors were followed until 1.5-2.5 years of age. Ail those 17 infants who survived without major neurological hand icap showed continuous activity on the CFM trace during the first and/ or second day of life. Twenty of the 21 infants who either died or dev eloped severe neurological damage had burst suppression or paroxysmal activity on the first or second day of life. Thus cerebral function mo nitoring can be a valuable tool in predicting prognosis for infants wi th severe perinatal asphyxia.