Case 3.2

Full- term infant, born at 40 weeks and 5 days, birthweight 4200 grams, delivery by vacuum extraction. The arterial umbilical pH was 6.88. Apgar scores were 2, 4, and 6, at 1, 5, and 10 minutes, respectively. The infant showed a rapid recovery, and it was decided that there was no indication for therapeutic hypothermia. After 48 hours however, there were some concerns about possible seizures and he was referred for neuro-monitoring. You connected the baby to the aEEG which showed the following:

What is your classification of the background activity?

You now also review the raw EEG and note that there is some rhythmic activity.

How would you interpret this?

The timescale was changed from 30 mm/sec to 15 mm/sec:

Besides recording the ECG and respiration, a video recording showed that the infant was given
a pacifier exactly when these sharp waves were seen.

What is your conclusion?