Predicting outcome in acute stroke: a comparison between QEEG and the Canadian Neurological Scale.
OBJECTIVE
To determine and compare the predictive value of quantitative EEG (QEEG) and the Canadian Neurological Scale (CaNS), in patients with an acute cerebral stroke.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients were studied with the diagnosis of acute ischemic middle cerebral artery stroke, within the first 72 hours of clinical evolution. Thirty-seven EEGs and clinical evaluations were collected: 13 during the first 24 hours after stroke onset, 9 between 24-48 hours and 15 between 48-72 hours. The QEEG studied variables were: the Z values (maximum, minimum and the Z medians from the 5 nearest points to each one) of absolute energies (AE) from the 4 classic frequencies bands. The clinical scale showed a smaller percent of correct prognosis than QEEG variables.


CONCLUSIONS
QEEG was demonstrated to be a powerful tool to predict the degree of residual functional disabilities after an acute ischemic stroke and showed a higher prognostic value than CaNS when they are performed within the first 72 hours of brain infarct.
Cuspineda
E
E
Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, Havana, Cuba.
Machado
C
C
Aubert
E
E
Galán
L
L
Llopis
F
F
Avila
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology