Subdermal needle electrodes: an option for emergency ("stat") EEGs.

Emergency or "stat" EEGs are ordered on patients who are suspected to have serious acute brain dysfunction (ABD). Often, these patients are comatose or have some altered level of consciousness (ALOC) from stroke, brain hemorrhage, head trauma, encephalopathy, seizures, or status epilepticus--which may be convulsive (SE) or non-convulsive (NCSE). As the number of stat EEGs increases, consider alternatives to traditional methods and tools, keeping overall patient care and outcome in mind.