title: The clinical utility of computer-assisted ambulatory 16 channel EEG.
abstract: The clinical utility of 16 channel computer-assisted out-patient ambulatory EEG (CO-LTM) was evaluated. The study included patients referred to a community-based service for further diagnostic evaluation using a 16-channel ambulatory monitor. Referring physicians were surveyed to evaluate if the results of their patients' monitoring sessions were associated with a change in their clinical management. Surveys were sent to 45 physicians referring the first 149 patients monitored. 121 surveys (81%) were returned from 31 physicians, a 69% response rate. The monitoring results were associated with non-neurological referrals in 40% of cases, referral for in-patient monitoring in 14%, a change in medication in 23% of cases, and resulted in no change in only 19% of the cases. A follow-up sample of 25 patients confirmed reduced or event freedom in 21, 2 unchanged and 2 unknown. Five of the six patients had had their diagnosis confirmed following video EEG. In conclusion, CO-LTM provides clinically useful information.
authors.affiliation: Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Department of Neurology Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010820:Physicians; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted