ArticleNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2020
Electroencephalography at the time of Covid-19 pandemic in Italy.
Article in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
28 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 42 citations in OpenAlex.
- Epilepsy and the risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 outcomes: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · 2021Pooled it
- Status epilepticus and COVID-19: A systematic review.Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · 2021Pooled it
- Meta-analysis of EEG findings in patients with COVID-19.Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · 2021Pooled it
- COVID-19, de novo seizures, and epilepsy: a systematic review.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2021Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Seizure Control in Pediatric Epilepsy: Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Impact and Recovery of VHA Epilepsy Care Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS · 2024Article
- Being a technician during COVID-19: a qualitative cross-sectional survey on the experiences of clinical neurophysiology technicians.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2023Article
- Omitting Hyperventilation in Electroencephalogram during the COVID-19 Pandemic May Reduce Interictal Epileptiform Discharges in Patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy.Brain sciences · 2022Article
- Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on epilepsy care in Japan: A national-level multicenter retrospective cohort study.Epilepsia open · 2022Article
- Electroencephalography at the height of a pandemic: EEG findings in patients with COVID-19.Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2022Article
- EEG as an indispensable tool during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A review of tribulations and successes.Frontiers in neurology · 2022Review
- Effects of hyperventilation with face mask on brain network in patients with epilepsy.Epilepsy research · 2021Article
- Short report on research trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and use of telehealth interventions and remote brain research in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2021Article
- Hyperventilation maneuver during EEG in children with epilepsy after the COVID-19 pandemic. Is a routine procedure necessary?Epilepsia open · 2021Article
- The Italian technical/administrative recommendations for telemedicine in clinical neurophysiology.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2021Article
- Epilepsy and COVID-19: Updated evidence and narrative review.Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · 2021Review
- Response to Canadian Neurophysiology Laboratory COVID-19 Practice Guidelines.The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques · 2021Article
- The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on People With Epilepsy and Vagal Nerve Stimulation.Frontiers in neurology · 2021Article
- Response from Authors to the Letter to the Editor.The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
11 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveDuring the Covid-19 pandemic, government restrictions limited health care to urgent needs. Neurophysiology centers had to suddenly reschedule their activities, with a lack of specific recommendations about electroencephalography (EEG) execution. During the pandemic phase 1, we launched an online survey to understand the flaws and strengths of the EEG management in Italy at the time of Covid-19 pandemic.
methodsA 45-item online survey (published from April 16 to 30, 2020), endorsed by the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (SINC), the Italian League Against epilepsy (LICE), and the Italian Association of Neurophysiology technologists (AITN), collected EEG management data (EEG's number and type, indications, personnel and patients safety, devices' sanification) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
resultsWe received responses from 206 centers. The number of EEGs performed was reduced by 76 ± 20%, and several types of specific EEG (video-EEG, ambulatory-EEG, LTM, polysomnography) were reduced at a minimum. Half of the centers performed inpatient EEGs only for urgencies. Repetitive seizures, encephalitis, and non-convulsive status epilepticus were the most common indications. Covid-19-positive patients received less EEG than negative ones (p < 0.0001). EEG requests came mainly not only from neurologists (n = 176) but also from general practitioners (n = 40), emergentists (n = 79), intensivists (n = 72), and other specialists (n = 53). Those centers which continued performing outpatient EEG examinations were instructed to perform the EEG after a Covid-19-related symptom screening for patients and using personal protective equipment (PPE) through all the procedure. Inpatient EEGs were performed using FFP2/FFP3 masks by neurophysiology technologists in only 50% of cases. Patients executed hyperventilation only for real clinical needs, but often (56%) with a mask.
conclusionsItalian neurophysiology centers strongly adhered to government restrictions of lockdown. Some issues emerged, ranging from the evaluation of a proper indication for EEG, technical procedures of EEG recording, and protection of neurophysiology technicians.
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