Investigation of perinatal asphyxia in term newborns with postnatal feeding intolerance

Aim: Perinatal asphyxia affects whole body systems and depending on compensation mechanisms, the central nervous system is primarily protected. In this study, we aimed to evaluate brain electrophysiological activity in cases with postnatal feeding intolerance due to perinatal asphyxia and to investigate whether the compensation mechanism is adequate or whether there is a minimal electrophysiological disorder. Methods: This study was conducted prospectively to compare the amplitude electroencephalography (EEG) recordings of 22 patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of feeding intolerance due to perinatal asphyxia and 10 control groups. Eeg probes were applied by gluing. Conventional EEG was performed in the patient group and the recordings were evaluated with an amplitude integrated electroencephalography (aEEG). It was also compared with feeding time, length of hospital stay, maternal ages, cord blood gas pH and base deficit values, electrolyte values at the 24th hour, appearance pulse grimace activity and respiration (APGAR) and Burdjalov scores. Results: When aEEG Vmin values, Burdjalov scores, and 1st min APGAR scores were compared, statistically significant difference was found between the patient and control groups. There was an inverse weak correlation between the patients' aEEG Vmin values and their length of hospital stay. A weak correlation was found between the cases’ cord blood gas base deficit and aEEG Vmax values. When cases were divided into two groups as less than 7 days of hospitalization and more than 7 days of hospitalization, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of maternal age. Conclusion: In our study, it was aimed to show whether there is a minimal effect of perinatal asphyxia on EEG findings in newborns with nutritional deficiency. The difference in the aEEG Vmin values of the case and control groups indicates that brain electrical activity is affected. This is also supported by the fact that those with higher Vmin values had shorter hospital stays.