EEG use in a tertiary referral centre.

O'Toole, O; Lefter, S; McNamara, B

dc.contributor.author	O'Toole, O
dc.contributor.author	Lefter, S
dc.contributor.author	McNamara, B
dc.date.accessioned	2011-11-15T15:58:39Z
dc.date.available	2011-11-15T15:58:39Z
dc.date.issued	2011-11-15T15:58:39Z
dc.identifier.citation	EEG use in a tertiary referral centre., 104 (7):202-4 Ir Med J	en
dc.identifier.issn	0332-3102
dc.identifier.pmid	21957686
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10147/189691
dc.description.abstract	The aim of this study was to retrospectively audit all electroencephalograms (EEGs) done over a 2-month period in 2009 by the Neurophysiology Department at Cork University Hospital. There were 316 EEGs performed in total, of which 176/316 (56%) were done within 24 hours of request. Out of 316 EEGs, 208 (66%) were considered 'appropriate' by SIGN and NICE guidelines; 79/208 (38%) had abnormal EEGs and 28 of these abnormal EEGs had epileptiform features. There were 108/316 (34%) 'inappropriate' requests for EEG; of these 15/108 (14%) were abnormal. Of the 67/316 (21%) patients who had EEGs requested based on a history of syncope/funny turns: none of these patients had epileptiform abnormalities on their EEGs. Our audit demonstrates that EEGs are inappropriately over-requested in our institution in particular for cases with reported 'funny turns' and syncope. The yield from EEGs in this cohort of patients was low as would be expected.
dc.language.iso	en	en
dc.subject.mesh	Electroencephalography
dc.subject.mesh	Epilepsy
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Hospitals, University
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Ireland
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Physician's Practice Patterns
dc.subject.mesh	Practice Guidelines as Topic
dc.subject.mesh	Retrospective Studies
dc.title	EEG use in a tertiary referral centre.	en
dc.type	Article	en
dc.contributor.department	Department of Neurology, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork. ootoole@rcsi.ie	en
dc.identifier.journal	Irish medical journal	en
dc.description.province	Munster
refterms.dateFOA	2018-08-22T14:59:49Z
html.description.abstract	The aim of this study was to retrospectively audit all electroencephalograms (EEGs) done over a 2-month period in 2009 by the Neurophysiology Department at Cork University Hospital. There were 316 EEGs performed in total, of which 176/316 (56%) were done within 24 hours of request. Out of 316 EEGs, 208 (66%) were considered 'appropriate' by SIGN and NICE guidelines; 79/208 (38%) had abnormal EEGs and 28 of these abnormal EEGs had epileptiform features. There were 108/316 (34%) 'inappropriate' requests for EEG; of these 15/108 (14%) were abnormal. Of the 67/316 (21%) patients who had EEGs requested based on a history of syncope/funny turns: none of these patients had epileptiform abnormalities on their EEGs. Our audit demonstrates that EEGs are inappropriately over-requested in our institution in particular for cases with reported 'funny turns' and syncope. The yield from EEGs in this cohort of patients was low as would be expected.