Expedited EEG testing for Epilepsy
According to the World Health Organization, each year five-million people worldwide are diagnosed with Epilepsy, a neurological disorder that affects the brain. While there is no cure for epilepsy, early detection and treatment of seizures is critical for patient care. The WHO estimates up to 70% of people with epilepsy could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated.1.
Prolonged and unrecognized seizures can lead to permanent brain injury, higher risk of morbidity and mortality and increased length of hospital stay. The Neurocritical Care Society recommends an EEG should be initiated within 15-60 minutes of suspected status epilepticus.2 Due to the lengthy prep time and limited access to EEG testing equipment compliance with this guideline is difficult, and frequently impossible.
In addition, non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is status epilepticus without obvious tonic–clonic activity. Patients with NCSE have an altered mental state.3 NCSE can be a difficult diagnosis to make in the emergency department setting, but the key to diagnosis is a high index of suspicion coupled with rapid initiation of continuous EEG monitoring and early involvement of neurology.4
Access to rapid EEG testing is a critical step in the diagnosis and treatment of both status epilepticus and NCSE. The NeuroCap device by Brain Scientific can be used by emergency physicians or any clinical staff member to administer EEG tests and assess patients to ensure an appropriate treatment course is established. Adoption of NeuroCap for use in your ER provides rapid, comfortable, reliable EEG testing to ensure precise neurological assessments.
Sources:
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy#:~:text=Around%2050%20million%20people%20worldwide%20have%20epilepsy%2C%20making%20it%20one,if%20properly%20diagnosed%20and%20treated
- http://wfccn.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Guidelines-for-the-Evaluation-and-Management-of-Status-Epilepticus.pdf
- https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/jnnp/74/2/189.full.pdf
- https://www.ebmedicine.net/topics/neurologic/status-epilepticus