Electroencephalographic monitoring in the intensive care unit

Abstract

EEG performance in the intensive care unit in critically ill patients can be provisionally allocated to a special type of research — EEG of critical states. The article deals with the methodological features of EEG performance in intensive care, as well as general patterns of EEG changes in patients in coma. The analysis of the patterns of the EEG in intensive care unit is described. Parameters of reactivity of the central nervous system are given. An algorithm for describing epileptiform changes is presented. The criteria for the diagnosis of nonconvulsive status epilepticus in patients unconscious are discussed, as well as a prognosis of the outcome of a long unconscious state in the presence of epileptiform changes in the EEG. Data on the parameters of periodic patterns are collected, their description and diagnostic criteria are given. The role and possibilities of EEG in the diagnosis of brain death are considered.