Reducing EEG (Electroencephalogram) Electrode-induced Skin Injury among Ambulatory EEG Monitored Patients: A Non-randomized Interventional Study of Two Commonly Used Cream-based Products for Electrode Application

• Published in: The Neurodiagnostic journal 2020-12, Vol.60 (4), p.300-316
• Main Authors: Ouchida, Sumika, Nikpour, Armin, Fairbrother, Greg
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ambulatory care; Ambulatory EEG monitoring; EEG electrodes; EEG quality; Electrodes; Electroencephalography; Inflammation; Skin; skin assessment; skin injury
• ISSN: 2164-6821; 2375-8627
• DOI: 10.1080/21646821.2020.1829894

Ambulatory electroencephalography (AEEG) seeks to capture inter-ictal epileptiform activity or paroxysmal events when patients are not in the clinic. Skin inflammation is a common complication of prolonged EEG monitoring. This non-randomized study aimed to investigate the performance of two commonly used cream-based methods of electrode application in reducing electrode-induced skin injury among patients undergoing AEEG monitoring. A non-randomized interventional study was conducted from July to December 2019 in the Neurosciences Ambulatory Care Unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia. Patients were enrolled into two groups: i) Group T, which received Ten20® Conductive Paste with Tensive® Conductive Adhesive Gel as the primary approach to electrode application; ii). Group E, which received EC2⁺® Conductive Cream as the primary approach to electrode application. Patients in Group T were enrolled in the 1st and 3rd week of the month, and patients in Group E were enrolled in the 2nd and 4th week for each month of the study. A total of 152 patients participated in this study. Two sub-groups were established: those who were monitored for two days (Group T; n = 36, Group E; n = 30) and those who were monitored for four days (Group T; n = 43, Group E; n = 43). Significant (p