MR imaging-compatible electroencephalography electrode system for an epilepsy monitoring unit.
We studied the usefulness of an MR imaging-compatible electroencephalography (EEG) electrode system for continuous EEG recordings in our epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) by comparing 100 consecutive patients with MR imaging-compatible and MR imaging-incompatible EEG recording electrodes who underwent MR imaging between 3:00 pm and 7:00 am. The MR imaging-compatible system captured seizures in 21/50 (42%) patients and clinically valuable new electrographic data in 13/50 (26%) patients during the study interval, whereas possible seizures were lost to recording in 19/50 (38%) patients in the MR imaging-incompatible system. EEG recording was comparable by both systems, but the nurses could disconnect and reconnect the patients to their electrode cables only in the MR imaging-compatible system during the study interval while the EEG technologists were off duty. This study shows that the MR imaging-compatible system could be used routinely for long-term monitoring of the patients in EMUs.
Mirsattari
S M
SM
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. smirsat2@uwo.ca
Tapsell
L M
LM
Ives
J R
JR
Lee
D H
DH
D004566:Electrodes; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*