The COVID-19 outbreak and approaches to performing EEG in Europe
Por:
Krysl, D, Beniczky, S, Franceschetti, S and Arzimanoglou A
Publicada:
1 oct 2020
Resumen:
Aims. The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) pandemic affects availability and performance of neurophysiological diagnostic methods, including EEG. Our objective was to outline the current situation regarding EEG-based investigations across Europe.
Methods. A web-based survey was distributed to centres within the European Reference Network on rare and complex epilepsies (ERN EpiCARE). Responses were collected between April 9 and May 15, 2020. Results were analysed with Microsoft Excel, Python Pandas and SciPy.
Results. Representants from 47 EpiCARE centres from 22 countries completed the survey. At the time of completing the survey, inpatient video-EEGs had been stopped or restricted in most centres (61.7% vs. 36.2% for adults, and 38.3% vs. 53.2% for children). Invasive investigations and epilepsy surgery were similarly affected. Acute EEGs continued to be performed, while indications for outpatient EEGs were limited and COVID-19 triage put in place. The strictness of measures varied according to extent of the outbreak in a given country.
Conclusions. The results indicate a profound impact of COVID-19 on neurophysiological diagnostics, especially inpatient video-EEGs, invasive investigations, and epilepsy surgery. The COVID-19 pandemic may hamper care for patients in need of EEG-based investigations, particularly patients with seizure disorders. ERN EpiCARE will work on recommendations on how to rapidly adapt to such situations in order to alleviate consequences for our patients.
Filiaciones:
Krysl, D:
Sahlgrens Univ Hosp, Dept Clin Neurophysiol, Bla Straket 7, S-41345 Gothenburg, Sweden
ERN EpiCARE, Gothenburg, Sweden
Univ Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Acad, Inst Neurosci & Physiol, Gothenburg, Sweden
Beniczky, S:
Danish Epilepsy Ctr, Dept Clin Neurophysiol, Dianalund, Denmark
ERN EpiCARE, Dianalund, Denmark
Aarhus Univ Hosp, Aarhus, Denmark
Aarhus Univ, Dept Clin Med, Aarhus, Denmark
Franceschetti, S:
Fdn IRCCS Ist Neurol Carlo Besta, Neurophysiol Unit, Milan, Italy
ERN EpiCARE, Milan, Italy
Arzimanoglou A:
Univ Hosp Lyon HCL, Dept Paediat Clin Epileptol Sleep Disorders & Fun, Lyon, France
ERN EpiCARE Lyon, Lyon, France
Univ Barcelona, San Juan de Dios Childrens Hosp, Epilepsy Unit, Barcelona, Spain
ERN EpiCARE, Barcelona, Spain
Green Published, Green Submitted
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