EEG abnormality as a prognostic factor in cirrhotic patients with Grade III-IV hepatic encephalopathy requiring
Lalita Gouri Mitra1, Geeta Rajput1, Vandana Saluja1
1Department of Anaesthesia Critical Care, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi.
Insights
Electroencephalography (EEG) effectively monitors hepatic encephalopathy severity in critically ill liver disease patients. Abnormal EEG patterns correlate with higher MELD scores, aiding prognostication.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Hepatology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a severe complication of liver cirrhosis with high mortality.
- Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class and MELD scores are key prognostic indicators for cirrhosis.
- Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) assesses critically ill patients dynamically.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the role of electroencephalography (EEG) in cirrhotic patients with Grade III-IV hepatic encephalopathy requiring mechanical ventilation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of EEG records from 92 patients in a liver intensive care unit (ICU).
- Patients admitted between April 2015 and May 2017 with Grade III-IV HE were included.
- Correlation of EEG findings with 28-day mortality, ICU stay, and mechanical ventilation duration was assessed.
Main Results:
- 85% of patients (78/92) showed bilateral slowing EEG patterns, indicating encephalopathy.
- Triphasic patterns were the most common abnormality (40% of those with abnormal EEG).
- Abnormal EEG correlated significantly with higher MELD scores (P=0.02).
Conclusions:
- EEG findings correlate well with disease severity in critically ill liver disease patients.
- EEG plays a role in monitoring and prognostication of hepatic encephalopathy.
- Abnormal EEG patterns are associated with poorer prognostic indicators like higher MELD scores.
Background And Aim:
Hepatic encephalopathy is a serious complication that entails liver cirrhosis with a high mortality rate. The Child- Turcotte-Pugh class (CTP class) and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score are two important prognostic indicators for cirrhosis, while sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) is a dynamic score for the assessment of critically ill patients. Patients with liver disease with advanced CTP class and higher MELD scores have poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of electroencephalography (EEG) in cirrhotic patients requiring ventilator support for hepatic encephalopathy Grade III-IV.
Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted on patients admitted to the liver intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary teaching institute. EEG records of 92 patients with Grade III-IV hepatic encephalopathy who were admitted between April 2015 and May 2017 to the liver ICU were analyzed. The correlation between EEG findings and 28-day mortality, ICU length of stay, and the number of days on mechanical ventilation was determined.
Results:
Seventy-eight of 92 patients (85%) exhibited bilateral slowing EEG pattern, suggestive of encephalopathy. A triphasic pattern was the most common EEG abnormality in 40% (31 of 78) of the patients. Patients with abnormal EEG had a significantly higher MELD score compared to those with a normal EEG (P=0.02). There were no significant differences in length of mechanical ventilation between both groups, but an increasing trend was observed in those with abnormal EEG (P=0.09).
Conclusion:
EEG findings correlate well with severity of disease in critically ill patients with liver disease.
Relevance For Patients:
EEG has a role in monitoring and prognostication of hepatic encephalopathy in critically ill patients with liver disease.
