Emergent electroencephalogram in the intensive care unit: indications and diagnostic yield.

Our aim was to study the frequency and reasons an emergent electroencephalogram (EmEEG) is ordered in the ICUs compared to the hospital ward, examine its usefulness and find predictive variables for its results. We retrospectively identified all electroencephalograms ordered between December 1997 and March 2002 and performed within 1 hour. The tests ordered from four ICUs were compared with those ordered from the Ward beds, and predictive models were developed for the results based on clinical variables.