The clinical utility of computer-assisted ambulatory 16 channel EEG.

The clinical utility of 16 channel computer-assisted out-patient ambulatory EEG (CO-LTM) was evaluated. The study included patients referred to a community-based service for further diagnostic evaluation using a 16-channel ambulatory monitor. Referring physicians were surveyed to evaluate if the results of their patients' monitoring sessions were associated with a change in their clinical management. Surveys were sent to 45 physicians referring the first 149 patients monitored. 121 surveys (81%) were returned from 31 physicians, a 69% response rate. The monitoring results were associated with non-neurological referrals in 40% of cases, referral for in-patient monitoring in 14%, a change in medication in 23% of cases, and resulted in no change in only 19% of the cases. A follow-up sample of 25 patients confirmed reduced or event freedom in 21, 2 unchanged and 2 unknown. Five of the six patients had had their diagnosis confirmed following video EEG. In conclusion, CO-LTM provides clinically useful information.