Course Information

Educational Need

Secondary neurological complications, including brain ischemia and seizures among others, are common in critically ill patients, impacting a reported 3% to 12% of patients. The occurrence of neurological sequels can lead to an increased risk of patient mortality and morbidity accompanied by an increased length of stay in the ICU and healthcare expense. Improved patient outcomes are dependent upon the early recognition and management of neurologic complications. Electroencephalography (EEG) is one of the most valuable noninvasive monitoring tools in the intensive care unit. When used for continuous monitoring, EEG provides sensitive, uninterrupted bedside appraisal of a patient’s neurological status and allows for the timely identification of issues so that interventions may be quickly initiated. Nurses and telemetry technicians have responsibility for monitoring continuous EEG for features suggestive of seizures, cerebral ischemia, or other neurological issues. In order to effectively monitor patients using this technology, nurses and telemetry technicians need to understand the indications and utility of continuous EEG as well as how to interpret the data provided.

An educational need has been identified for a continuing education activity on the importance, utility, and application of continuous EEG monitoring in the critical care setting. This one-hour online continuing education activity is recommended for nurses and telemetry technicians.

Overview

Secondary neurological complications, including brain ischemia and seizures among others, are common in critically ill patients. Continuous electroencephalography (EEG) provides sensitive, uninterrupted bedside appraisal of a patient’s neurological status and allows for the timely identification of neurologic issues so that interventions may be quickly initiated. This activity will assist nurses and telemetry technicians improve practice regarding the continuous EEG monitoring of critically ill patients. Specifically, this activity will review the reasons for monitoring, goals of monitoring, and normal and abnormal EEG features.

Learning Outcome / Objectives

After completing this continuing education activity, nurses and telemetry technicians will be able to use continuous EEG to monitor critically ill patients. Specifically, they will be able to (1) cite the clinical importance, utility, and application of continuous EEG monitoring of critically ill patients and (2) differentiate normal and abnormal EEG features.

Outline

• EEG Monitoring Basics
  • Reasons to monitor
  • Goals of monitoring
  • Electrode placement
  • Duration of monitoring
  • EEG review, interpretation, and reporting
• Normal EEG Features
  • Amplitude
  • Latency
  • Frequency
  • Symmetry
  • Patterns
• Abnormal EEG Findings
  • Seizures
  • Status epilepticus
  • Cerebral ischemia
  • Brain death