Electroencephalography in Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a technique of choice for the exploration of brain activity dynamics, based on the recording of electrical fields produced by the synaptic activity of cortical neurons. Easy to implement, it appears to be relevant to the neurological assessment and management of patients in an intensive care environment, and evaluating cerebral activities in nonconscious or noncommunicating patients. EEG participates in coma diagnosis, evaluation of their depth and prognosis, and sometimes etiological diagnosis. It plays a fundamental role in the management of status epilepticus, allowing diagnosis of nonconvulsive status, whether focal or generalized, contributing to the differential diagnosis and guiding the therapy. EEG is a prognostic tool in anoxic encephalopathies and allows the diagnosis of brain death. This functional monitoring device is fundamental in detecting metabolic or toxic encephalopathy, and viral or dysimmune encephalitis.