Automatic seizure detection and seizure pattern morphology.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the influence of seizure pattern morphology on detection rate and detection delay of an automatic seizure detection system. We correlated seizure pattern morphology with seizure onset zone and assessed the influence of seizure onset zone on the performance of the seizure detection system. METHODS: We analyzed 10.000 hours of EEG in 129 patients, 193 seizures in 67 patients were included in the final analysis. Seizure pattern morphologies were classified as rhythmic activity (alpha, theta and delta), paroxysmal fast activity, suppression of activity, repetitive epileptiform and arrhythmic activity. The seizure detection system EpiScan was compared with visual analysis. RESULTS: Detection rates were significantly higher for rhythmic and repetitive epileptiform activities than for paroxysmal fast activity. Seizure patterns significantly correlated with seizure onset zone. Detection rate was significantly higher in temporal lobe (TL) seizures than in frontal lobe (FL) seizures. Detection delay tended to be shorter in seizures with rhythmic alpha or theta activity. TL seizures were significantly more often detected within 10 seconds than FL seizures. CONCLUSIONS: Seizure morphology is critical for optimization of automatic seizure detection algorithms. SIGNIFICANCE: This study is unique in exploring the influence of seizure pattern morphology on automatic seizure detection and can help future research on seizure detection in epilepsy.

Quantitative EEG-Based Seizure Estimation in Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of seizure burden in patients with super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) by using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG). METHODS: EEG recordings from 69 patients with SRSE (2009-2019) were reviewed and annotated for seizures by three groups of reviewers: two board-certified neurophysiologists using only raw EEG (gold standard), two neurocritical care providers with substantial experience in qEEG analysis (qEEG experts), and two inexperienced qEEG readers (qEEG novices) using only a qEEG trend panel. RESULTS: Raw EEG experts identified 35 (51%) patients with seizures, accounting for 2950 seizures (3,126 min). qEEG experts had a sensitivity of 93%, a specificity of 61%, a false positive rate of 6.5 per day, and good agreement (κ = 0.64) between both qEEG experts. qEEG novices had a sensitivity of 98.5%, a specificity of 13%, a false positive rate of 15 per day, and fair agreement (κ = 0.4) between both qEEG novices. Seizure burden was not different between the qEEG experts and the gold standard (3,257 vs. 3,126 min), whereas qEEG novices reported higher burden (6066 vs. 3126 min). CONCLUSIONS: Both qEEG experts and novices had a high sensitivity but a low specificity for seizure detection in patients with SRSE. qEEG could be a useful tool for qEEG experts to estimate seizure burden in patients with SRSE.

[Automatic detection of epileptiform potentials and seizures in the EEG]. / Automatische Erkennung von epilepsietypischen Potenzialen und Anfällen im EEG.

Automatic computer-based algorithms for the detection of epileptiform potentials and seizure patterns on EEG facilitate a time-saving, objective method of quantitative EEG interpretation which is available 7/24. For the automatic detection of interictal epileptiform potentials sensitivities range from 65 to 99% with false positive detections of 0,09 to 13,4 per minute. Recent studies documented equal or even better performance of automatic spike detection programs compared with experienced human EEG readers. The seizure detection problem-one of the major problems in clinical epileptology-consists of the fact that the majority of focal onset seizures with impaired awareness and of seizures arising out of sleep occur unnoticed by patients and their caregivers. Automatic seizure detection systems could facilitate objective seizure documentation and thus help to solve the seizure detection problem. Furthermore, seizure detection systems may help to prevent seizure-related injuries and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), and could be an integral part of novel, seizure-triggered on-demand therapies in epilepsy. During long-term video-EEG monitoring seizure detection systems could improve patient safety, provide a time-saving objective and reproducible analysis of seizure patterns and facilitate automatic computer-based patient testing during seizures. Sensitivities of seizure detection systems range from 75 to 90% with extratemporal seizures being more difficult to detect than temporal seizures. The false positive alarm rate ranges from 0,1 to 5 per 24 hours. Finally, machine learning algorithms, especially deep learning approaches, open a new highly promising era in automatic spike and seizure detection.

Presurgical epilepsy evaluation and epilepsy surgery.

With a prevalence of 0.8 to 1.2%, epilepsy represents one of the most frequent chronic neurological disorders; 30 to 40% of patients suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy (that is, seizures cannot be controlled adequately with antiepileptic drugs). Epilepsy surgery represents a valuable treatment option for 10 to 50% of these patients. Epilepsy surgery aims to control seizures by resection of the epileptogenic tissue while avoiding neuropsychological and other neurological deficits by sparing essential brain areas. The most common histopathological findings in epilepsy surgery specimens are hippocampal sclerosis in adults and focal cortical dysplasia in children. Whereas presurgical evaluations and surgeries in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis and benign tumors recently decreased in most centers, non-lesional patients, patients requiring intracranial recordings, and neocortical resections increased. Recent developments in neurophysiological techniques (high-density electroencephalography [EEG], magnetoencephalography, electrical and magnetic source imaging, EEG-functional magnetic resonance imaging [EEG-fMRI], and recording of pathological high-frequency oscillations), structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (ultra-high-field imaging at 7 Tesla, novel imaging acquisition protocols, and advanced image analysis [post-processing] techniques), functional imaging (positron emission tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography co-registered to MRI), and fMRI significantly improved non-invasive presurgical evaluation and have opened the option of epilepsy surgery to patients previously not considered surgical candidates. Technical improvements of resective surgery techniques facilitate successful and safe operations in highly delicate brain areas like the perisylvian area in operculoinsular epilepsy. Novel less-invasive surgical techniques include stereotactic radiosurgery, MR-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy, and stereotactic intracerebral EEG-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation.

Automatic Computer-Based Detection of Epileptic Seizures.

Automatic computer-based seizure detection and warning devices are important for objective seizure documentation, for SUDEP prevention, to avoid seizure related injuries and social embarrassments as a consequence of seizures, and to develop on demand epilepsy therapies. Automatic seizure detection systems can be based on direct analysis of epileptiform discharges on scalp-EEG or intracranial EEG, on the detection of motor manifestations of epileptic seizures using surface electromyography (sEMG), accelerometry (ACM), video detection systems and mattress sensors and finally on the assessment of changes of physiologic parameters accompanying epileptic seizures measured by electrocardiography (ECG), respiratory monitors, pulse oximetry, surface temperature sensors, and electrodermal activity. Here we review automatic seizure detection based on scalp-EEG, ECG, and sEMG. Different seizure types affect preferentially different measurement parameters. While EEG changes accompany all types of seizures, sEMG and ACM are suitable mainly for detection of seizures with major motor manifestations. Therefore, seizure detection can be optimized by multimodal systems combining several measurement parameters. While most systems provide sensitivities over 70%, specificity expressed as false alarm rates still needs to be improved. Patients' acceptance and comfort of a specific device are of critical importance for its long-term application in a meaningful clinical way.

Automated Long-Term EEG Review: Fast and Precise Analysis in Critical Care Patients.

Background: Ongoing or recurrent seizure activity without prominent motor features is a common burden in neurological critical care patients and people with epilepsy during ICU stays. Continuous EEG (CEEG) is the gold standard for detecting ongoing ictal EEG patterns and monitoring functional brain activity. However CEEG review is very demanding and time consuming. The purpose of the present multirater, EEG expert reviewer study, is to test and assess the clinical feasibility of an automatic EEG pattern detection method (Neurotrend). Methods: Four board certified EEG reviewers used Neurotrend to annotate 76 CEEG datasets à 6 h (in total 456 h of EEG) for rhythmic and periodic EEG patterns (RPP), unequivocal ictal EEG patterns and burst suppression. All reviewers had a predefined time limit of 5 min (± 2 min) per CEEG dataset and were compared to a predefined gold standard (conventional EEG review with unlimited time). Subanalysis of specific features of RPP was conducted as well. We used Gwet's AC1 and AC2 coefficients to calculate interrater agreement (IRA) and multirater agreement (MRA). Also, we determined individual performance measures for unequivocal ictal EEG patterns and burst suppression. Bonferroni-Holmes correction for multiple testing was applied to all statistical tests. Results: Mean review time was 3.3 min (± 1.9 min) per CEEG dataset. We found substantial IRA for unequivocal ictal EEG patterns (0.61-0.79; mean sensitivity 86.8%; mean specificity 82.2%, p < 0.001) and burst suppression (0.68-0.71; mean sensitivity 96.7%; mean specificity 76.9% p < 0.001). Two reviewers showed substantial IRA for RPP (0.68-0.72), whereas the other two showed moderate agreement (0.45-0.54), compared to the gold standard (p < 0.001). MRA showed almost perfect agreement for burst suppression (0.86) and moderate agreement for RPP (0.54) and unequivocal ictal EEG patterns (0.57). Conclusions: We demonstrated the clinical feasibility of an automatic critical care EEG pattern detection method on two levels: (1) reasonable high agreement compared to the gold standard, (2) reasonable short review times compared to previously reported EEG review times with conventional EEG analysis.

Seizure detection using scalp-EEG.

Scalp electroencephalography (EEG)-based seizure-detection algorithms applied in a clinical setting should detect a broad range of different seizures with high sensitivity and selectivity and should be easy to use with identical parameter settings for all patients. Available algorithms provide sensitivities between 75% and 90%. EEG seizure patterns with short duration, low amplitude, circumscribed focal activity, high frequency, and unusual morphology as well as EEG seizure patterns obscured by artifacts are generally difficult to detect. Therefore, detection algorithms generally perform worse on seizures of extratemporal origin as compared to those of temporal lobe origin. Specificity (false-positive alarms) varies between 0.1 and 5 per hour. Low false-positive alarm rates are of critical importance for acceptance of algorithms in a clinical setting. Reasons for false-positive alarms include physiological and pathological interictal EEG activities as well as various artifacts. To achieve a stable, reproducible performance (especially concerning specificity), algorithms need to be tested and validated on a large amount of EEG data comprising a complete temporal assessment of all interictal EEG. Patient-specific algorithms can further improve sensitivity and specificity but need parameter adjustments and training for individual patients. Seizure alarm systems need to provide on-line calculation with short detection delays in the order of few seconds. Scalp-EEG-based seizure detection systems can be helpful in an everyday clinical setting in the epilepsy monitoring unit, but at the current stage cannot replace continuous supervision of patients and complete visual review of the acquired data by specially trained personnel. In an outpatient setting, application of scalp-EEG-based seizure-detection systems is limited because patients won't tolerate wearing widespread EEG electrode arrays for long periods in everyday life. Recently developed subcutaneous EEG electrodes may offer a solution in this respect.

Rhythmic and periodic EEG patterns of 'ictal-interictal uncertainty' in critically ill neurological patients.

OBJECTIVES: To study periodic and rhythmic EEG patterns classified according to Standardized Critical Care EEG Terminology (SCCET) of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society and their relationship to electrographic seizures. METHODS: We classified 655 routine EEGs in 371 consecutive critically ill neurological patients into (1) normal EEGs or EEGs with non-specific abnormalities or interictal epileptiform discharges, (2) EEGs containing unequivocal ictal EEG patterns, and (3) EEGs showing rhythmic and periodic EEG patterns of 'ictal-interictal uncertainty' (RPPIIIU) according to SCCET. RESULTS: 313 patients (84.4%) showed normal EEGs, non-specific or interictal abnormalities, 14 patients (3.8%) had EEGs with at least one electrographic seizure, and 44 patients (11.8%) at least one EEG containing RPPIIIU, but no EEG with electrographic seizures. Electrographic seizures occurred in 11 of 55 patients (20%) with RPPIIIU, but only in 3 of 316 patients (0.9%) without RPPIIIU (p⩽0.001). Conversely, we observed RPPIIIU in 11 of 14 patients (78.6%) with electrographic seizures, but only in 44 of 357 patients (12.3%) without electrographic seizures (p⩽0.001). CONCLUSIONS: On routine-EEG in critically ill neurological patients RPPIIIU occur 3 times more frequently than electrographic seizures and are highly predictive for electrographic seizures. SIGNIFICANCE: RPPIIIU can serve as an indication for continuous EEG recordings.