Large inter-rater variability on EEG-reactivity is improved by a novel quantitative method

To assess inter-rater agreement on EEG-reactivity (EEG-R) in comatose patients and compare it with a quantitative method (QEEG-R).

Six 30-s stimulation epochs (noxious, visual and auditory) were performed during EEG on 19 neurosurgical and 11 cardiac arrest patients. Six experts analysed EEGs for reactivity using their habitual methods. QEEG-R was defined as present if ≥2/6 epochs were reactive (stimulation/rest power ratio exceeding noise level). Three-months patient outcome was assessed by the Cerebral Performance Category Score (CPC) dichotomized in good (1-2) or poor (3-5).

Agreement among experts on overall EEG-R varied from 53% to 83% (κ: 0.05-0.64) and reached 100% (κ: 1) between two QEEG-R calculators. For the experts, absence of EEG-R yielded sensitivities for poor outcome between 40-85% and specificities between 20-90%, for QEEG-R sensitivity was 40% (CI: 23-68%) and specificity 100% (CI: 69-100%).

There is a large inter-rater variation among experts on EEG-R assessment in comatose patients. QEEG-R is a promising objective prognostic parameter with low inter-rater variation and a high specificity for prediction of poor outcome.

Clinicians should be cautious when using the traditional, qualitative method, in particular in end-of-life decisions. Implementation of the quantitative method in clinical practice may improve reliability of reactivity assessments.