In all intensive care units, 10-20% of patients are
unconscious. The vital signs of heart and breathing are
normal, but why does the patient not wake up?
One cause of unconsciousness may be the development
of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). NCSE can cause
secondary brain damage, leading to increased morbidity
and increased death rates.
Prolonged EEG (cEEG) in intensive care may help
detect NCSE, which would require prompt
therapeutic intervention with improved prognosis.