Ambulatory Flashcards
7 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 7 Ambulatory flashcards as text
A patient wearing an ambulatory EEG recorder reports the device became wet after showering despite instructions. The technologist's FIRST concern should be:
Answer: Patient electrical safety and device integrity
Patient safety is the primary concern; water ingress into recording equipment can create electrical hazards, and device integrity must be assessed before continuing.
Which electrode placement system is MOST commonly used for ambulatory EEG studies in the United States?
Answer: 10-20 International System
The 10-20 International System is the standard electrode placement system used for ambulatory EEG in the US and most international centers.
An ambulatory EEG recording shows a sudden onset of 3 Hz spike-and-wave discharges lasting 12 seconds, coinciding with the patient pressing the event button. This is MOST consistent with:
Answer: A typical absence seizure
Classic 3 Hz generalized spike-and-wave lasting approximately 10–15 seconds with preserved consciousness is the hallmark of typical absence seizures.
What is the PRIMARY advantage of extending ambulatory EEG from 24 hours to 72 hours?
Answer: Greater likelihood of capturing infrequent seizures or interictal discharges
Longer recordings increase the probability of capturing rare events; seizure yield rises substantially with extended monitoring duration.
A patient's ambulatory EEG diary notes going to sleep at 22:30. The technologist should expect to see which EEG pattern shortly after this time?
Answer: Vertex sharp waves and sleep spindles
Normal sleep onset is marked by vertex sharp waves (V waves) and sleep spindles (12–14 Hz) during NREM stage N2 sleep.
During ambulatory EEG data review, a technologist identifies a train of rhythmic sharp waves in the right temporal region lasting 45 seconds without a diary entry or event button press. The appropriate action is to:
Answer: Flag the segment and note it in the report as a possible subclinical seizure
Subclinical seizures can occur without patient awareness; the technologist should flag and document the finding for the interpreting physician's review.
In ambulatory EEG, the collodion electrode application technique is preferred over adhesive paste for long-term recordings because it:
Answer: Ensures better electrode stability over multiple days
Collodion (pyroxylin) glue creates a strong mechanical bond that keeps electrodes securely attached for 24–72+ hour recordings without displacement.