ICU and Continuous EEG Monitoring 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 ICU and Continuous EEG Monitoring flashcards as text
When setting up cEEG in the ICU, a reduced electrode array (e.g., 8–10 electrodes) is often used instead of full 10-20 because:
Answer: It allows faster setup and is practical in critically ill patients while still detecting most seizures
Reduced electrode sets are a practical compromise in ICU settings, enabling rapid application while still capturing the majority of electrographic seizures with acceptable sensitivity.
Rhythmic delta activity (RDA) in the ICU that shows an evolution in frequency or distribution should prompt the clinician to consider:
Answer: Possible seizure activity requiring further evaluation
Evolving RDA may represent ictal activity on the ictal-interictal continuum, and evolution is a key feature that raises concern for seizures rather than a static encephalopathic pattern.
Stimulus-induced rhythmic, periodic, or ictal discharges (SIRPIDs) are significant in cEEG monitoring because they:
Answer: May represent seizures triggered by external stimulation and affect care decisions
SIRPIDs are pathological EEG discharges provoked by external stimuli (tactile, auditory) and their clinical significance — whether ictal or interictal — must be assessed to guide treatment.
In cEEG monitoring, an alpha coma pattern is characterized by:
Answer: Diffuse, unreactive alpha-frequency activity in a comatose patient
Alpha coma features widespread alpha or alpha-like activity that is unresponsive to external stimuli, often seen after cardiac arrest or pontine lesions, and carries a poor prognosis.
What is the primary purpose of EEG reactivity testing during cEEG monitoring in comatose patients?
Answer: To assess the integrity of cortical function by stimulating the patient and observing EEG changes
EEG reactivity testing involves applying auditory or noxious stimuli and documenting any EEG change, which serves as a prognostic marker of cortical network integrity in coma.
High-frequency oscillations (HFOs) detected on intracranial EEG in the ICU, specifically ripples (80–250 Hz) and fast ripples (250–500 Hz), are clinically important because they:
Answer: Mark the epileptogenic zone and may guide surgical resection planning
HFOs, especially fast ripples, are biomarkers of the seizure-generating cortex and are being studied as targets for epilepsy surgery to improve resection outcomes.