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Atlas of Neonatal Electroencephalography
Brain & Development 26 (2004) 545 www.elsevier.com/locate/braindev
Book review Atlas of Neonatal Electroencephalography Mizrahi EM, Hrachovy RA, Kellaway P; 3rd edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004, 274 pages, US$ 159.00 This book is designed to present a comprehensive review of the clinical practice of neonatal electroencephalography (EEG) for neurologists and clinical neurophysiologists, for trainees in neurology and clinical neurophysiology, and for electroneurodiagnostic technologists. It is based on the collective experience of the authors, which spans more than 50 years. One of the authors, Peter Kellaway, who passed away at the age of 82 years in 2003, was a great pioneer in the field of developmental neurophysiology. He made a great contribution to the establishment of the electroencephalogram (EEG) as an important clinical tool for studying the developing brain in health and disease. The atlas consists of seven chapters, each covering important aspects of neonatal EEG. Chapter 1 concerns approach to visual analysis and interpretation. The process of visual analysis and interpretation is well illustrated in a flow diagram, which will help clinicians to interpret neonatal EEGs systematically and properly. Chapter 2 deals with techniques of recording. Important points peculiar to neonatal EEG and video recordings are described in sufficient detail. Chapter 3 describes artifacts of non-cerebral origin, a major problem in neonatal EEG, which is performed in the neonatal intensive care unit, a relatively uncontrolled electrical environment, compared with the EEG laboratory. Some 42 pages are devoted to this chapter in the 250-page book. Figures should have been limited to those artifacts peculiar to neonatal EEGs, and
0387-7604/$ - see front matter q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.braindev.2004.03.005
more pages should have been allocated to the next important chapters. Chapter 4 consists of 38 pages and describes normal findings. They are systematically explained in terms of continuity, bilateral synchrony, developmental landmarks, wake –sleep cycles and reactivity. The definition of sleep and wakefulness is not given but necessary. The description is too much simplified, but should have been more detailed. EEG samples from 26 through 44 weeks of conceptional ages are displayed. The readers would understand neonatal EEG better if more normal EEG samples in various states at each conceptional age had been given and in what sequence they appear in wake– sleep cycle had been described. Chapter 5 mentions patterns of uncertain diagnostic significance, reflecting a peculiar situation in neonatal EEG. Chapter 6 deals with abnormal findings in premature and term neonates. EEG samples of early preterm infants are scanty in spite of the recent increased importance of brain injury of these infants. It would be better if more samples of abnormal background EEGs had been provided instead of many figures of sharp waves. Chapter 7 deals with neonatal seizures. Plenty of ictal EEGs will help readers to understand the characteristics of seizures in the newborn infant. In spite of the above-mentioned shortcomings, this atlas will help busy clinicians to get a quick grasp of neonatal EEGs as the text portion comprises only about 40 pages. Kazuyoshi Watanabe Department of Medical Welfare, Aichi Shukutoku University, Nagoya, Japan
Book review Atlas of Neonatal Electroencephalography Mizrahi EM, Hrachovy RA, Kellaway P; 3rd edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004, 274 pages, US$ 159.00 This book is designed to present a comprehensive review of the clinical practice of neonatal electroencephalography (EEG) for neurologists and clinical neurophysiologists, for trainees in neurology and clinical neurophysiology, and for electroneurodiagnostic technologists. It is based on the collective experience of the authors, which spans more than 50 years. One of the authors, Peter Kellaway, who passed away at the age of 82 years in 2003, was a great pioneer in the field of developmental neurophysiology. He made a great contribution to the establishment of the electroencephalogram (EEG) as an important clinical tool for studying the developing brain in health and disease. The atlas consists of seven chapters, each covering important aspects of neonatal EEG. Chapter 1 concerns approach to visual analysis and interpretation. The process of visual analysis and interpretation is well illustrated in a flow diagram, which will help clinicians to interpret neonatal EEGs systematically and properly. Chapter 2 deals with techniques of recording. Important points peculiar to neonatal EEG and video recordings are described in sufficient detail. Chapter 3 describes artifacts of non-cerebral origin, a major problem in neonatal EEG, which is performed in the neonatal intensive care unit, a relatively uncontrolled electrical environment, compared with the EEG laboratory. Some 42 pages are devoted to this chapter in the 250-page book. Figures should have been limited to those artifacts peculiar to neonatal EEGs, and
0387-7604/$ - see front matter q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.braindev.2004.03.005
more pages should have been allocated to the next important chapters. Chapter 4 consists of 38 pages and describes normal findings. They are systematically explained in terms of continuity, bilateral synchrony, developmental landmarks, wake –sleep cycles and reactivity. The definition of sleep and wakefulness is not given but necessary. The description is too much simplified, but should have been more detailed. EEG samples from 26 through 44 weeks of conceptional ages are displayed. The readers would understand neonatal EEG better if more normal EEG samples in various states at each conceptional age had been given and in what sequence they appear in wake– sleep cycle had been described. Chapter 5 mentions patterns of uncertain diagnostic significance, reflecting a peculiar situation in neonatal EEG. Chapter 6 deals with abnormal findings in premature and term neonates. EEG samples of early preterm infants are scanty in spite of the recent increased importance of brain injury of these infants. It would be better if more samples of abnormal background EEGs had been provided instead of many figures of sharp waves. Chapter 7 deals with neonatal seizures. Plenty of ictal EEGs will help readers to understand the characteristics of seizures in the newborn infant. In spite of the above-mentioned shortcomings, this atlas will help busy clinicians to get a quick grasp of neonatal EEGs as the text portion comprises only about 40 pages. Kazuyoshi Watanabe Department of Medical Welfare, Aichi Shukutoku University, Nagoya, Japan