Effects of midazolam and lidocaine on spectral properties of the EEG in full-term neonates with stroke

Assessment of the neonatal EEG may be hampered by drug-specific changes in electrocortical activity. To quantify effects of a loading dose of midazolam and lidocaine on the EEG frequency spectrum of full-term neonates with perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS), 11 full-term infants underwent multi-channel amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) and EEG recordings. During recording, midazolam and/or lidocaine were administered as anti-epileptic drug. Retrospectively, we performed spectral analysis on 4-h EEG segments around the loading dose. The frequency spectrum was divided in δ (1–4 Hz), θ (4–8 Hz), α (8–13 Hz) and β (13–30 Hz) bands. Midazolam induced immediate suppression of the aEEG background pattern for 30–60 min. Spectral EEG analysis showed decreased total and absolute frequency band powers. Relative δ power decreased, θ power increased while α and β powers remained constant. Lidocaine induced no aEEG background pattern suppression. Total and absolute EEG band powers were unchanged. Relative δ power decreased, θ and α power increased and β power remained constant. Effects of lidocaine were more pronounced in the stroke-affected hemisphere. In conclusions, both drugs induced a shift from low to higher frequency electrocortical activity. Additionally, midazolam reduced total EEG power. These spectral changes differ from those seen in adult studies.