Medical Society Guidelines Emphasize the Need for Prompt EEG Monitoring for Patients at Risk of Status Epilepticus

Given the impact of prompt detection on treatment success and outcomes, medical society guidelines recommend EEG be applied promptly when status epilepticus is suspected and in various conditions in which the risk of status epilepticus is high

“Continuous EEG monitoring should be initiated within 1 h of SE onset if ongoing seizures are suspected.”

NCS Guidelines for Evaluation and Management of Status Epilepticus¹

American Heart Association

“Recommend promptly performing and interpreting EEG for the diagnosis of seizures in patients who do not follow commands after ROSC.”

AHA Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care²𝄒³

The Joint Commission

“Growing evidence suggests that [comprehensive post–cardiac arrest care] is critical for both patient survival and optimal neurological outcome.”

R3 Report on Resuscitation Standards for Hospitals⁴

American Heart Association

“EEG [is recommended] for a change in mental status or depressed mental status out of proportion to the stroke.”

AHA Comprehensive Nursing Care Scientific Statement for Care of the Patient with Acute Ischemic Stroke⁵

American Heart Association

“New-onset seizures in the context of spontaneous ICH are relatively common […] and most of these seizures occur within the first 24 hours of the hemorrhage.”

AHA/ASA Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage⁶

American Heart Association

“Monitoring with continuous EEG can detect nonconvulsive seizures, especially in patients with depressed consciousness or fluctuating neurological examination.”

AHA/ASA Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage⁷

“CCEEG has an important role in detection of secondary injuries such as seizures and ischemia in critically ill adults and children with altered mental status.”

ACNS Consensus Statement on Continuous EEG in Critically Ill Adults and Children⁸

“We recommend EEG in all patients with ABI [Acute Brain Injury] and unexplained and persistent altered consciousness […and] in patients with cSE that do not return to functional baseline within 60 minutes after seizure medication.”

Consensus Summary Statement of the International Multidisciplinary Consensus Conference on Multimodality Monitoring in Neurocritical Care⁹

Neurocritical Care Society

2012 NCS Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Status Epilepticus¹

“Continuous EEG monitoring should be initiated within 1 h of SE onset if ongoing seizures are suspected.”

READ GUIDELINES
American Heart Association


The Joint Commission

American Heart Association

2021 AHA/ASA Comprehensive Nursing Care Scientific Statement for Care of the Patient with Acute Ischemic Stroke5

“Neurological complications, including […] poststroke seizures result in early neurological deterioration, associated with poor outcomes.”

READ THE STATEMENT

American Heart Association

2022 AHA/ASA Guideline for the Management of Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage6

“New-onset seizures in the context of spontaneous ICH are relatively common […] and most of these seizures occur within the first 24 hours of the hemorrhage.”

READ GUIDELINES

American Heart Association

2023 AHA/ASA G​uideline for the Management of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage7

“Monitoring with continuous EEG can detect nonconvulsive seizures, especially in patients with depressed consciousness or fluctuating neurological examination.”

READ GUIDELINES

2015 ACNS Consensus Statement on Continuous EEG in Critically Ill Adults and Children8

“CCEEG has an important role in detection of secondary injuries such as seizures and ischemia in critically ill adults and children with altered mental status.”

READ THE STATEMENT

“We recommend EEG in all patients with ABI [Acute Brain Injury] and unexplained and persistent altered consciousness […and] in patients with cSE that do not return to functional baseline within 60 minutes after seizure medication.”

Other Resources