RECORDING EEG IN YOUNG CHILDREN WITHOUT SEDATION

Background Although it has been considered that sedation in children undergoing EEG tests is effective and safe and complications are infrequent, occasionally adverse sedation-related events are presented. Objective The aim of this work was to determine if it is possible to carry out EEG in children up to 4 years old without sedation and analyze the factors that could influence upon the possibility of performing EEG, in vigil or with sedation. Methods: In the period between November 2001 to November 2004, 489 patients up to 4 years old were studied in order to analyze how several parameters (sex, age, and diagnosis) could influence upon conditions of performing electroencephalogram (with or without sedation). Patients were assembled into several groups : sex, age (I: 0 - 12 months; II: 13 - 24 months; III: 25 - 36 months; and IV: 37 - 48 months), and diagnostic. The affections were : epilepsy, hyperkinesia, cerebral palsy, spasticity, sobbing spasm, encephalopathy, and psychomotor retardation. Results 281 electroencephalographic studies were carried out in vigil and this value represented 57,5% of the total electroencephalograms performed. During the performance of the study the children's behavior was independent of sex and initial diagnostic, but it was influenced by age. The higher number (104) of studied carried out in vigil was performed in children from 37 to 48 months, which represented 70,8 % of cases. The lowest percentage was obtained in children with psychomotor retardation Conclusions In most cases, it is possible to carry out electroencephalograms on children without using sedative drugs. To perform this study in vigil is advantageous because the recording of electroencephalographic signs in abnormal conditions of brain functioning and the appearance of contamination in the recording due to sedative drugs, which could confuse the diagnosis are avoided.