Current practice in administration and clinical criteria of emergent EEG

Abstract

Policies of administration and availability of EEG offered during nonbusiness hours vary widely among EEG laboratories. The authors surveyed medical directors of accredited EEG laboratories (n = 84) to determine the ranges of availability and clinical indications for approval of continuously available emergent EEG (E-EEG). Of 46 respondents, 37 (80%) offered E-EEG. Two centers recently lost funding for E-EEG. Availability was not associated with the total number of EEGs performed annually. The mean estimated response time from request to expert interpretation was 3 +/- 4 hours (range, 1-24 hours). The five clinical indications for which most respondents approved E-EEGs were possible nonconvulsive status epilepticus (100%), treatment of status epilepticus (84%), cerebral death exam (81%), diagnosis of convulsive status epilepticus (79%), and diagnosis of coma or encephalopathy (70%). Respondents disagreed widely when asked which clinical situations merited E-EEG, with some approving all requests and others denying all except for nonconvulsive status epilepticus. The wide range of current practice suggests that research focused on outcomes of aggressive, EEG-aided patient evaluation and treatment are needed to define better the costs and benefits of a continuously available EEG service.