Emergent EEG: indications and diagnostic yield.

Varelas, P N; Spanaki, M V; Hacein-Bey, L; Hether, T; Terranova, B · Neurology · 2003

retrospective_cohort · Level III

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Abstract

The authors reviewed the reports of all emergent EEG (EmEEG) performed in our hospital within 1 hour of the test being ordered over a period of 52 months. Two hundred sixty-one EmEEG (12.8% of all EEG) were performed. The most common reason to order the test was a change in mental status or coma (17.6%). Although EmEEG was ordered to rule out status epilepticus (SE) in 60.2% of cases, this diagnosis was made in only 10.7% of patients. The only independent predictor for SE was a history of cardiac or respiratory arrest (odds [95% CI], 6.8 [2.7 to 16.9]).

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