Frontiers in Medicine (Mar 2021)

High Incidence of Epileptiform Potentials During Continuous EEG Monitoring in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

  • Barbara Schultz,
  • Terence Krauß,
  • Maren Schmidt,
  • Michael Schultz,
  • Andrea Schneider,
  • Olaf Wiesner,
  • Julius J. Schmidt,
  • Klaus Stahl,
  • Sascha David,
  • Sascha David,
  • Marius M. Hoeper,
  • Markus Busch

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.613951
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Objective: To analyze continuous 1- or 2-channel electroencephalograms (EEGs) of mechanically ventilated patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with regard to occurrence of epileptiform potentials.Design: Single-center retrospective analysis.Setting: Intensive care unit of Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.Patients: Critically ill COVID-19 patients who underwent continuous routine EEG monitoring (EEG monitor: Narcotrend-Compact M) during sedation.Measurements and Main Results: Data from 15 COVID-19 patients (11 men, four women; age: 19–75 years) were evaluated. Epileptiform potentials occurred in 10 of 15 patients (66.7%).Conclusions: The results of the evaluation regarding the occurrence of epileptiform potentials show that there is an unusually high percentage of cerebral involvement in patients with severe COVID-19. EEG monitoring can be used in COVID-19 patients to detect epileptiform potentials.

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