A comparison of subdermal wire electrodes with collodion-applied disk electrodes in long-term EEG recordings in ICU.
OBJECTIVE
To compare long-term electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings of standard collodion-applied scalp disk electrodes (SDEs) with newly developed subdermal wire electrodes (SWEs) in comatose intensive care unit (ICU) patients.


METHODS
Ten comatose ICU patients had simultaneous recordings from 8 active SDEs and 8 active SWE for >24 h. The timing and number of 60 Hz and other electrode artifacts were compared for each set of electrodes by an EEGer who read the recordings in a blinded manner.


RESULTS
Sixty Hertz artifact was seen in 16 of 80 SDE and one of 80 SWEs within the first 6 h (P=0.0002). Large, persistent artifacts occurred in 30/80 SDE and 8 of 80 SWE (P=0.0001). Motion artifact with chest physiotherapy was more common in SWEs.


CONCLUSIONS
SWE are less susceptible to artifacts and are more suitable for the long-term EEG monitoring in ICU.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first controlled study that demonstrates the superiority of SWEs compared to SDEs in an ICU population.
Young
G Bryan
GB
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University Hospital, University of Western Ontario, 339 Windermere Road, London, Ont., Canada N6A 5A5. bryan.young@lhsc.on.ca
Ives
John R
JR
Chapman
Martin G
MG
Mirsattari
Seyed M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D003101:Collodion; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003422:Critical Care; D020405:Dermis; D004566:Electrodes; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives
D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D003101:Collodion