Delirium impacts up to 80% of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Current clinical sedation scales depend on subjective measurements, which are unreliable. We hypothesize processed EEG (pEEG) may be effective at monitoring depth of sedation in critically ill patients.

We conducted a scoping review, and a pilot prospective observational feasibility study.

The scoping review revealed pEEG can enable more precise titration of sedatives, reduce oversedation, and support individualized care in situations where clinical scales are limited, though performance variability, and limited data on long-term outcomes prevent universal adoption.

The observational study demonstrated feasibility in screening, enrolling, and consenting patients, and delivering pEEG monitoring. We found a weak positive, statistically significant correlation between pEEG scores, and clinical sedation score, however no significant correlation with clinical outcomes.

These findings support the feasibility of pEEG monitoring in the ICU, and inform future research to optimize sedation in critically ill patients.

Read More