Ambulatory Flashcards
6 cards from real EEG practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Ambulatory flashcards as text
What is a significant limitation of ambulatory EEG compared to inpatient video-EEG monitoring?
Answer: Many ambulatory systems lack time-synchronized video, making behavioral correlation difficult
A major limitation of ambulatory EEG is the frequent absence or limited quality of time-synchronized video, making it difficult to correlate EEG findings with the patient's clinical behavior during events.
Which clinical scenario is MOST appropriate for ordering an ambulatory EEG?
Answer: A patient with frequent weekly events that have not been captured on routine EEG
Ambulatory EEG is ideal for patients with frequent events (weekly or more) that have not been captured on routine EEG, as the extended recording duration significantly increases the likelihood of recording a clinical event.
Impedance checks during ambulatory EEG should be performed:
Answer: At hookup and at each follow-up visit or when the recording device is checked
Impedances should be checked at initial hookup and at scheduled follow-up visits (typically daily for multi-day recordings) to identify and correct electrode degradation before it compromises recording quality.
How does an ambulatory EEG system handle data storage for a 72-hour recording?
Answer: Data is stored on a compact flash card, SD card, or internal memory in the portable recording device
Modern ambulatory EEG systems store data digitally on flash memory cards (CF, SD) or internal solid-state memory within the portable recording unit, with sufficient capacity for continuous multi-day recordings at full sampling rates.
Sleep staging during ambulatory EEG is important because:
Answer: Sleep architecture documentation helps identify state-dependent abnormalities and certain disorders like parasomnias
Sleep staging in ambulatory EEG documents sleep architecture and identifies state-dependent patterns: epileptiform discharges activated by specific sleep stages, sleep disorders, and abnormalities that differ between wake and sleep states.
What guidance should patients receive about bathing and water exposure during an ambulatory EEG recording?
Answer: Patients should avoid submerging the recording equipment in water and typically should not shower or bathe to maintain electrode integrity
Patients should avoid bathing, showering, and swimming during ambulatory EEG as water can degrade electrode adhesion, increase impedances, damage the recording equipment, and compromise data quality.