Premium
Scalp EMG in brain death electroencephalogram
Author(s) -
Wee A.S.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1986.tb04638.x
Subject(s) - scalp , brainstem , electroencephalography , survivability , brain function , medicine , audiology , psychology , neuroscience , anatomy , computer science , computer network
Electromyograms (EMGs) are usually considered artifacts during electroencephalographic (EEG) recording for determination of electrocerebral silence (ECS). Appearance of scalp motor unit activity, however, may reflect residual brainstem function and can introduce difficulty in establishing a secure diagnosis of brain death. In this study, ECS patients with and without scalp EMG were compared in terms of relationship to brainstem survivability. There was no correlation between length of survivability and presence of scalp EMG activity. No patient recovered brainstem function clinically. This study provides firm support for the usual practice of ignoring the EMG in brain death EEG. Scalp EMG has no prognostic value.