Electroencephalography

Abstract

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is created by differential amplification of cortical postsynaptic excitatory and inhibitory potentials. As a neurophysiologic monitor, it can be used as a bedside tool to assess an unresponsive patient in an emergency setting, particularly in the case of a patient with a history of epilepsy or an unexplained coma. Use of EEG in the emergency department (ED) can be technically challenging; both obtaining and interpreting the study may pose difficulty in small community hospitals or remote settings.