Cassette electroencephalographic recording of neonates with apneic episodes.

To evaluate the practical importance of seizures as a cause of neonatal apnea, we obtained extended cassette electroencephalographic recording for periods as long as 24 hours from 50 neonates experiencing apneic episodes unassociated with clinical seizure activity. Electroencephalographic recording through definite apneic episodes was obtained in 37 neonates; a total of 153 episodes were detected. None was associated with electroencephalographic seizure activity, although one term neonate without documented apneic episodes had seizure activity detected by cassette electroencephalography and may have had apneic seizures. The episodic apnea and bradycardia commonly encountered in preterm neonates is unlikely to be a manifestation of seizure activity, and extended electroencephlographic monitoring of such patients is of low yield.