[Indications for emergency EEG. Focal neurologic deficits and partial epileptic seizures in adults]

A focal neurological deficit is defined as the clinical expression of a structural or functional, transient or permanent abnormality that can be ascribed to a particular brain region. In that context, the indications of an EEG as part of the emergency management may be summarized as follows: i) The EEG in not indicated for the diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic management of transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or migraine; ii) The possible prognostic value of EEG during the acute phase of stroke has not yet been validated; iii) In partial epileptic seizures, especially complex partial epilepsy, the EEG is useful but not always indispensable for diagnosis. Its therapeutical and prognostic implications are still uncertain. Lastly, EEG is an absolute indication as part of the emergency management of focal deficits in a febrile context, where its diagnostic and prognostic value are unequaled.