An audit of continuous EEG monitoring in the neurological-neurosurgical intensive care unit.

Abstract

The use of long-term continuous EEG (cEEG) monitoring in neurological-neurosurgical intensive care units (NSICU) has witnessed an exponential increase. We decided to do an audit of the long-term cEEG monitoring in our NSICU over the past 7 years (2005-2011). The study was performed to determine technical and staffing consideration for the future. An audit of all long-term cEEG monitoring studies in our NSICU from 2005 through 2011. We found a dramatic increase in the use of the cEEG monitoring in our NSICU over the 7-year period. The use of long-term cEEG monitoring in the NSICU is expected to further increase in the coming years. Stricter clinical criteria for undertaking cEEG recordings are likely to increase the role and usefulness of this procedure.