Use of EEG for predicting outcome of unresponsive patients the ITU
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The use of electroencephalography (EEG) features for prognosis of unresponsive patients in the intensive care setting.
IRAS ID
199989
Contact name
Jeremy Bland
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring is often used to assess brain function in unresponsive patients in the intensive care setting. It is also used to a lesser extent for assessing the prognosis of a patient. There has been much interest recently in the prognostic value of specific EEG patterns, especially in patients in post-anoxic coma following a cardiac arrest.
It is important that we understand which EEG features can be used to reliably predict the outcome of patients seen in the ITU (Intensive therapy unit). In addition it would be interesting to see if these features are limited to patients with hypoxic brain damage or if they are more widely applicable. This study will therefore use a broader scope to observe correlation between EEG features and outcome in a wide variety of patients seen in the ITU.
The study will answer the following questions:
1. Is there correlation between specific EEG features (epileptiform activity and response to stimuli) and outcome at point of discharge?
2. Is there correlation between presence of continuous, burst-suppression pattern or an isoelectric (low voltage) EEG background and outcome at point of discharge?
3. Do these trends remain when patients in post-anoxic coma are removed from the analysis?
To answer these questions individual EEG reports will be collected and compared to state at point of discharge from hospital, which will be taken from the discharge notification.
The study will use retrospective data from the last three years, which will be collected by members of the care team. Only patients who received an EEG in an ITU ward within East Kent Hospital Trust will be included in the study. The aim is to complete the study within one year.REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0087
Date of REC Opinion
20 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion