F87 EEG cap placement for expedited identification of non-convulsive status epilepticus

Abstract

Introduction The objective of this study is to compare the accuracy and time to diagnose of an EEG cap compared to a standard EEG in the setting of suspected non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). NCSE is diagnosed exclusively by EEG and becomes more resistant to treatment one hour after continued seizure activity (Meierkord et al., 2007; Young et al., 1996). At night in many institutions standard EEGs experience significant latency periods that may delay diagnosis and treatment. In contrast EEG caps are quicker to place than standard electrodes and can be placed by residents who are already in the hospital and don’t need to commute, potentially decreasing time to diagnose and treat. Methods For patients with suspected NCSE, residents directly place an EEG cap after ordering a stat EEG by standard hospital protocol. Both EEG cap recordings and standard EEG recordings were analyzed in a blinded manner by an epileptologist. Timing, accuracy of interpretation, and cost were compared. Currently 13 patients have been enrolled, with goal of 20 total patients. Results EEG cap placement reduced the time to obtain EEG recording by over one hour compared to standard EEG. Preliminary data if the first 10 subjects showed no differences in diagnosis of status. Conclusion Use of EEG caps allows for more rapid identification and treatment of NCSE. EEG caps are useful in guiding clinical decision making in suspected NCSE.