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. 2001 Oct;93(10):359–362.

Emergency EEG and factors associated with nonconvulsive status epilepticus.

R B Khan 1, P K Yerremsetty 1, D Lindstrom 1, L J McGill 1
PMCID: PMC2594063  PMID: 11688915

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with nonconvulsive status epileptics (NCSE) and optimize efficient use of emergency electroencephalography (EEG) services. A retrospective review of medical records identified features associated with NCSE over a 1-year period. Seventy-eight EEGs were identified and divided into four groups. Group I, normal EEG; group II, EEG slowing; group III, epileptiform discharges; and group IV, NCSE. Three risk factors were associated with EEG-confirmed NCSE. These three risk factors are: history of epilepsy, witnessed seizure around the time of presentation, and seizure-like motor activity (SLMA). At least one of these three risk factors was identified in 35 patients, and all of the patients with NCSE were within this group. Forty-three patients had absence of these factors, and none of these patients were found to have NCSE, giving these factors a negative predictive value of 100%. Our study suggests that these three factors are highly associated with NCSE. A prospective study should be done to confirm this finding.

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Selected References

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