title: [Relevance of electroencephalography in infants presenting to an emergency department who have had an apparent life-threatening event].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neurological causes are common diagnoses for apparent life-threatening events in infants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relevancy of electroencephalography performed after an apparent life-threatening event.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted in a children's hospital over a 1-year period. The charts of infants under 2 years of age who were admitted following an apparent life-threatening event were reviewed. Clinical and biological data were collected and electroencephalograms - divided into normal and abnormal - were reviewed. To evaluate the follow-up state of the patients, parents were invited to complete an evaluation form an average 13 months after the event. The yield for electroencephalography was established according to the ratio of positive results contributing to the diagnosis of the cause of the apparent life-threatening event.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 47 patients met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen had had an EEG, 32 had not. The rate of abnormal neurological signs described by parents during the apparent life-threatening event was higher in the EEG group compared to the group without EEG (53% vs. 22%, P=0.05). In the follow-up, 35% of the children presented a second event, which was described as being similar or less impressive and occurred in the 1st month after the event (91%). Of the eight abnormal electroencephalograms, six had no specific abnormalities and two contributed to the diagnosis of epileptic seizure. Therefore, the diagnostic yield of electroencephalography in this study was 13% (2/8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The yield of electroencephalography performed after an apparent life-threatening event is low. Neurological history and repeated physical examinations still remain the major diagnostic tools before resorting to electroencephalography.
authors.affiliation: Service des urgences pédiatriques, université Paris-Descartes, hôpital Necker-Enfants malades, AP-HP, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France. Electronic address: fuger.marilyn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuger
authors.affiliation: CAMSP Papillons Blancs-Paris Nord, 24, rue Marx-Dormoy, 75018 Paris, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merdariu
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie pédiatrique, hôpital Bicêtre, AP-HP, 78, rue du Général-Leclerc, 94270 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maurey
authors.affiliation: Service d'explorations fonctionnelles, laboratoire de neurophysiologie clinique, hôpital Necker-Enfants malades, AP-HP, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France; Inserm U663, 75015 Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, CEA, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaminska
authors.affiliation: Service des urgences pédiatriques, université Paris-Descartes, hôpital Necker-Enfants malades, AP-HP, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chéron
mesh_terms: D001049:Apnea / Q000209:etiology*; D016638:Critical Illness; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D014600:Utilization Review