EEG in liver transplantation: visual and computerized analysis

We prospectively evaluated 40 liver transplant candidates (including 28 recipients) with visually scored or computerized EEG. As expected, EEG frequencies rose significantly after successful transplant (P < 0.01). For all subjects, but especially for the transplant recipients, higher frequencies on computerized EEG at baseline had a strong association with survival at 18 months (P < 0.001). A logistic regression model allowed estimation of the odds for survival and indicated less than 50% long-term survival with central-occipital mean frequencies below 7.6 c/sec. Visual EEG scores closely paralleled the quantitative results, but only the latter were amenable to formal statistical analysis. EEG had much stronger predictive value for survival than serum albumin, although albumin improved more significantly in the months after transplantation.