Neurocritical Patient Care
Neurotelemetry: Detection of NCSz and NCSE
Developing a Rational Approach to Diagnosis and Management the Critical Ill Population
by Jan Claassen, MD , and Lawerence Hirsch, MD. (Neurology 2004;62:1743–8
Neurotelemetry provides dynamic information to hospital staff about brain function that allows early detection of changes in neurologic status
Despite being one of the oldest tests available, EEG remains the only neurodiagnostic procedure that provides a continuous record of cerebral function over long periods. Recent advances in cEEG analysis make real-time bedside monitoring of brain activity possible so that neurologic status can be assessed and tracked as easily as cardiopulmonary status. Our technology infrastructure makes remote monitoring of cEEG possible, opening the door for true, real-time, continuous brain telemetry at any hospital with neurocritical care patients.
Routine EEG is not sufficient or monitoring patients in the ICU. Seizures represent a critical care emergency associated with higher mortality and cerebral morbidity. We now know that non-convulsive seizure, or non-clinical seizures are much more common then originally reported. In fact, approximately 90% of critically ill patients with seizures recorded have purely non-convulsive seizures that are unrecognized at the bedside and can only be diagnosed with cEEG monitoring.
(Claassen J, et al. Detection of electrographic seizures with continuous EEG monitoring in critically ill patients. Neurology 2004;62:1743–8)
The Answer is...Neurotelemetry
Your critical care physicians need real-time, dynamic information to assess the on-going status of neurocritical care patients.
Why is it important - How does this help me or my loved one?
If your loved one was in an accident or just out of surgery from a heart attack, and brought to the ICU… your physicians would know their temperature, cardiopulmonary status, oxygen saturation, end tidal CO2, cardiac output, arterial pressures and other critical vital signs. If the patient is unconscious, sedated or given neuromuscular blocking agents you would hope they would know the cerebral status as well.
For patients who suffer from NCSE, great than 80% will die if the seizure continues for over 20 hours without intervention.
Without dynamic EEG information on a continuous or intermittent basis, the doctors will be unable to provide therapy to the critical ill who are highly susceptible to seizures.
The medical legal landscape is changing and hospitals are being held accountable for cerebral injury as a result of patients who suffered cerebral injury from seizures and the hospital did not monitor the brain status/activity, but could have known if they provided cEEG information to the clinician.
If your family member was in the ICU...would you know their cerebral status?
CortiCare was created to provide a cost effective solution for hospitals to obtain critical neurologic information about the cerebral status in real-time.