title: EEG use in a tertiary referral centre.
abstract: The aim of this study was to retrospectively audit all electroencephalograms (EEGs) done over a 2-month period in 2009 by the Neurophysiology Department at Cork University Hospital. There were 316 EEGs performed in total, of which 176/316 (56%) were done within 24 hours of request. Out of 316 EEGs, 208 (66%) were considered 'appropriate' by SIGN and NICE guidelines; 79/208 (38%) had abnormal EEGs and 28 of these abnormal EEGs had epileptiform features. There were 108/316 (34%) 'inappropriate' requests for EEG; of these 15/108 (14%) were abnormal. Of the 67/316 (21%) patients who had EEGs requested based on a history of syncope/funny turns: none of these patients had epileptiform abnormalities on their EEGs. Our audit demonstrates that EEGs are inappropriately over-requested in our institution in particular for cases with reported 'funny turns' and syncope. The yield from EEGs in this cohort of patients was low as would be expected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork. ootoole@rcsi.ie
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: O'Toole
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lefter
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McNamara
mesh_terms: D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies