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Excerpt from EEG Atlas: Encephalopathic Patterns II - More Severe Patterns


Synonyms, Key Words, and Related Terms: brain death, ECI, electrocerebral inactivity, ECI, periodic patterns, burst-suppression, periodicity, cerebral function, brain function

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Since EEG is a test of cerebral function, diffuse (generalized) abnormal patterns are by definition indicative of diffuse brain dysfunction (ie, diffuse encephalopathy). Generalized slowing is discussed in EEG Atlas: Encephalopathic Patterns I - Generalized Slowing, and other encephalopathic patterns are discussed in EEG Atlas: Encephalopathic Patterns III - Miscellaneous Patterns.

This article reviews patterns that generally are considered the next level of severity beyond generalized slowing. These patterns include periodic patterns (such as burst-suppression), background suppression, and electrocerebral inactivity (ECI).

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