Point-of-Care Electroencephalography in Acute Neurological Care: A Narrative Review
Point-of-care electroencephalography (POC-EEG) systems are rapid-access, reduced-montage devices designed to address the limitations of conventional EEG (conv-EEG), enabling faster neurophysiological assessment in acute settings. This review evaluates their clinical impact, diagnostic performance, a...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Roberto Fratangelo Francesco Lolli Maenia Scarpino Antonello Grippo |
| author_facet | Roberto Fratangelo Francesco Lolli Maenia Scarpino Antonello Grippo |
| author_sort | Roberto Fratangelo |
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| description | Point-of-care electroencephalography (POC-EEG) systems are rapid-access, reduced-montage devices designed to address the limitations of conventional EEG (conv-EEG), enabling faster neurophysiological assessment in acute settings. This review evaluates their clinical impact, diagnostic performance, and feasibility in non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, and delirium. A comprehensive search of Medline, Scopus, and Embase identified 69 studies assessing 15 devices. In suspected NCSE, POC-EEG facilitates rapid seizure detection and prompt diagnosis, making it particularly effective in time-sensitive and resource-limited settings. Its after-hours availability and telemedicine integration ensure continuous coverage. AI-assisted tools enhance interpretability and accessibility, enabling use by non-experts. Despite variability in accuracy, it supports triaging, improving management, treatment decisions and outcomes while reducing hospital stays, transfers, and costs. In TBI, POC-EEG-derived quantitative EEG (qEEG) indices reliably detect structural lesions, support triage, and minimize unnecessary CT scans. They also help assess concussion severity and predict recovery. For strokes, POC-EEG aids triage by detecting large vessel occlusions (LVOs) with high feasibility in hospital and prehospital settings. In delirium, spectral analysis and AI-assisted models enhance diagnostic accuracy, broadening its clinical applications. Although POC-EEG is a promising screening tool, challenges remain in diagnostic variability, technical limitations, and AI optimization, requiring further research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a4cd84cdbe204428baa7f1e224178246 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2035-8377 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a4cd84cdbe204428baa7f1e2241782462025-08-20T02:28:27ZengMDPI AGNeurology International2035-83772025-03-011744810.3390/neurolint17040048Point-of-Care Electroencephalography in Acute Neurological Care: A Narrative ReviewRoberto Fratangelo0Francesco Lolli1Maenia Scarpino2Antonello Grippo3UOC Neurologia, Ospedale San Giuseppe, 50053 Empoli, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, ItalyNeurophysiology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, ItalyNeurophysiology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, ItalyPoint-of-care electroencephalography (POC-EEG) systems are rapid-access, reduced-montage devices designed to address the limitations of conventional EEG (conv-EEG), enabling faster neurophysiological assessment in acute settings. This review evaluates their clinical impact, diagnostic performance, and feasibility in non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, and delirium. A comprehensive search of Medline, Scopus, and Embase identified 69 studies assessing 15 devices. In suspected NCSE, POC-EEG facilitates rapid seizure detection and prompt diagnosis, making it particularly effective in time-sensitive and resource-limited settings. Its after-hours availability and telemedicine integration ensure continuous coverage. AI-assisted tools enhance interpretability and accessibility, enabling use by non-experts. Despite variability in accuracy, it supports triaging, improving management, treatment decisions and outcomes while reducing hospital stays, transfers, and costs. In TBI, POC-EEG-derived quantitative EEG (qEEG) indices reliably detect structural lesions, support triage, and minimize unnecessary CT scans. They also help assess concussion severity and predict recovery. For strokes, POC-EEG aids triage by detecting large vessel occlusions (LVOs) with high feasibility in hospital and prehospital settings. In delirium, spectral analysis and AI-assisted models enhance diagnostic accuracy, broadening its clinical applications. Although POC-EEG is a promising screening tool, challenges remain in diagnostic variability, technical limitations, and AI optimization, requiring further research.https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/17/4/48point-of-care EEGportable EEG systemsrapid neurological diagnosticsnon-convulsive status epilepticus managementtraumatic brain injury assessmentstroke detection |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Fratangelo Francesco Lolli Maenia Scarpino Antonello Grippo Point-of-Care Electroencephalography in Acute Neurological Care: A Narrative Review Neurology International point-of-care EEG portable EEG systems rapid neurological diagnostics non-convulsive status epilepticus management traumatic brain injury assessment stroke detection |
| title | Point-of-Care Electroencephalography in Acute Neurological Care: A Narrative Review |
| title_full | Point-of-Care Electroencephalography in Acute Neurological Care: A Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | Point-of-Care Electroencephalography in Acute Neurological Care: A Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Point-of-Care Electroencephalography in Acute Neurological Care: A Narrative Review |
| title_short | Point-of-Care Electroencephalography in Acute Neurological Care: A Narrative Review |
| title_sort | point of care electroencephalography in acute neurological care a narrative review |
| topic | point-of-care EEG portable EEG systems rapid neurological diagnostics non-convulsive status epilepticus management traumatic brain injury assessment stroke detection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/17/4/48 |
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