Background: The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a common diagnostic tool used to investigate patients for various indications including seizure disorders.Aims: To investigate factors that predict the presence of epileptiform abnormalities on EEG and review the common indications for ordering an EEG.
Methods:We retrospectively reviewed all routine adult EEG performed in a hospital over a 6-month period. Data collated included patient demographics, clinical indication for EEG, setting in which EEG was performed, activation procedures utilised, history of epilepsy, and whether the patient was on antiepileptic medication. Our primary objective was to evaluate the factors that were predictive of an EEG with epileptiform abnormalities.Results: Two hundred and thirty-nine routine EEG were included with indications, inpatient setting and within 48 h of seizure event were all statistically more likely to yield epileptiform abnormalities on EEG.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that careful selection of patients based on appropriate indications for EEG referral would likely improve the yield of an EEG. Depending on the indication, a normal EEG result can be of similar usefulness to an abnormal EEG demonstrating epileptiform abnormalities.
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