A study of the impact of treating seizures that can be seen and those that can be seen only on a brain monitor in newborn babies, who are having seizures or at high risk of seizures.

Abstract

Doctors know that seizures occur more often in babies than older children. Seizures in babies may result in damage to their brain that may lead to epilepsy or affect their learning, thinking and memory. There is not a lot of research as to the best way to treat seizures in babies and to protect their brain function.

The aim of this research project is to compare the treatment of seizures that are physically seen by doctors and nurses (standard clinical care) to when seizures are detected using an amplitude integrated electroencephalograph monitor (aEEG), to see which method is better at protecting brain function in the longer term.

We hope a total of 630 babies will take part in this study. Half of the babies will receive standard treatment and half will be treated when a seizure is seen on the aEEG monitor. After the babies have been discharged from hospital we will follow them up at 2 years of age to assess their development.

This research project is important because it may change the way doctors treat seizures in babies in the future, and we want to make sure that our treatment is protecting the babies brain.