Auditory Brainstem Response in Neonatal Period
Part II. Evaluation of ABR Changes in Asphyxia and Intracranial Hemorrhage of the Neonates
1983 Volume 35 Issue 3 Pages 528-550
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1983 Volume 35 Issue 3 Pages 528-550
Recently, perinatal and neonatal advanced cares have heen established against high risk newborns especially in the respiratory problems, but morbidities of the central nervous system damages were characterized inspite of survival of their tiny lifes. Neonatal asphyxia and intracranial hemorrhage are the most important and common serious neurological events in the neonatal intensive care unit. Auditory evoked brainstem response (ABR) is consisted in its origin of brainstem auditory pathway, and is able to measure central nervous system integrities without any invasion.
ABR was p erformed on 27 asphyxiated neonates,22 cases of ICH (intracranial hemorrhage)neonates, and 4 cases of ICH caused by Vit. K deficiency. They were transfered to NICU since 1st. Jan. to 31st. Dec. in 1982. The following results were obtained.
1) In 27 asphyxiated neonates with 1-minutes Apgar score of less than 6,51.9% showed increase of latencies in ABR, and 74.1% increased thresholds, and abnormal ABR were detected in 77.8% of the cases.
2) In 13 asphyxiated neonates without ICH,7.1% of the cases showed increased latencies, the threshold increased in 85.7%.
3) In the cases of ICH with 1-minutes Apgar score more than 8,66.7% of the cases showed increased latencies,16.7 % had increased thresholds.
4) ABR in the asphyxiated group were significantly higher in threshold than that of nonasphyxiated group as well as ICH cases. (P<0.001)
5) In the IVH cases, ABRs could not be depickted in 60% of the cases, and 20% showed increased latencies (1.5-4SD)
6) IVH cases showed significantly higher threshold than that of SDH cases. (P<0.01)
7) In the SDH cases, ABR latencies were less increased than that of IVH, and recovered within 2 weeks.
8) 4 ICH cases due to Vit. K deficiency with brain edema and increased ICP showed remarkably prolonged latencies in ABR.
9) In the cases of brain edema in ICH and asphyxia, abnormal ABR was improved within short time after the treatment of cerebral edema.
10) The present results indicate that ABR is a valuable and reliable tool in assessment of brainstem function, especially in the comatous state of critical CNS damage following IC H and/or asphyxia.
