Citation

Hack DC, Huff JS, Curley K, Naunheim R, Ghosh Dastidar S, Prichep LS. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 2017; 35(7): 949-952.

Affiliation

BrainScope Co., Bethesda, MD, USA; New York University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: leslie.prichep@nyumc.org.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ajem.2017.01.060

PMID

28258840

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Extremely high accuracy for predicting CT+ traumatic brain injury (TBI) using a quantitative EEG (QEEG) based multivariate classification algorithm was demonstrated in an independent validation trial, in Emergency Department (ED) patients, using an easy to use handheld device. This study compares the predictive power using that algorithm (which includes LOC and amnesia), to the predictive power of LOC alone or LOC plus traumatic amnesia. PARTICIPANTS: ED patients 18-85years presenting within 72h of closed head injury, with GSC 12-15, were study candidates. 680 patients with known absence or presence of LOC were enrolled (145 CT+ and 535 CT- patients).

METHODS: 5-10min of eyes closed EEG was acquired using the Ahead 300 handheld device, from frontal and frontotemporal regions. The same classification algorithm methodology was used for both the EEG based and the LOC based algorithms. Predictive power was evaluated using area under the ROC curve (AUC) and odds ratios.

RESULTS: The QEEG based classification algorithm demonstrated significant improvement in predictive power compared with LOC alone, both in improved AUC (83% improvement) and odds ratio (increase from 4.65 to 16.22). Adding RGA and/or PTA to LOC was not improved over LOC alone.

CONCLUSIONS: Rapid triage of TBI relies on strong initial predictors. Addition of an electrophysiological based marker was shown to outperform report of LOC alone or LOC plus amnesia, in determining risk of an intracranial bleed. In addition, ease of use at point-of-care, non-invasive, and rapid result using such technology suggests significant value added to standard clinical prediction.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

EEG; LOC; Loss of consciousness; TBI; Traumatic amnesia; Traumatic brain injury