The Journal of perinatal & neonatal nursing
-
J Perinat Neonatal Nurs · Jul 2013
ReviewSleep-wake cycling in a neonate admitted to the NICU: a video-EEG case study during hypothermia treatment.
This retrospective case study describes the sleep-wake cycles of an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit. We analyzed video-electroencephalographic recording of the term infant monitored during treatment with therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The continuous video-electroencephalographic recording over a 4-day period also allowed us to describe the following dimensions of daily care in relation to the infant's sleep-wake states: (1) handling by professional and parent caregivers and (2) stress, pain, and analgesia. ⋯ This case study suggests that neonatal intensive care unit infants are exposed to frequent handling and stress as well as altered sleep. The cumulative negative impact of frequent handling and sleep fragmentation may go unnoticed by caregivers focused on episodes of care. Continuous video-electroencephalographic monitoring is a useful tool for longitudinal evaluation of infant sleep and responses to caregiving in the neonatal intensive care unit.