The diagnostic value of EEGs in patients with syncope.
We retrospectively reviewed reports of all EEGs performed at the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute at JFK Hospital between January 1999 and December 2003. Of 9234 EEGs performed, 1094 were of patients with syncope. Among patients with syncope, 67.18% of the EEGs were normal and 28.15% showed diffuse and focal slowing. Only 1.46% of the EEGs showed epileptiform discharges (EDs). This is similar to the incidence of EDs in healthy adults. The presence of EDs did not change the management of these patients. Therefore, EEGs have very low yield and should not be routinely obtained in patients with syncope.
Abubakr
Abuhuziefa
A
New Jersey Neuroscience Institute, Seton Hall University for Graduate Medical Education, 65 James Street, Edison, NJ 08818, USA. aabubakr@solarihs.org
Wambacq
Ilse
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology