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

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

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.613951

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.613951

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> 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.</p><p><bold>Design:</bold> Single-center retrospective analysis.</p><p><bold>Setting:</bold> Intensive care unit of Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.</p><p><bold>Patients:</bold> Critically ill COVID-19 patients who underwent continuous routine EEG monitoring (EEG monitor: Narcotrend-Compact M) during sedation.</p><p><bold>Measurements and Main Results:</bold> 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%).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> 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.</p>