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.
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University Hospital, University of Western Ontario, 339 Windermere Road, London, Ont., Canada N6A 5A5. bryan.young@lhsc.on.ca
G Bryan
GB
Young
John R
JR
Ives
Martin G
MG
Chapman
Seyed M
SM
Mirsattari
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