Comprehensive Summary
This study examines the use of a novel two-channel EEG device called SubQ to detect post-ictal generalized EEG suppression (PGES) in severe epilepsy cases. In contrast to traditional scalp EEGs which record electrical signals from eight to ten channels, SubQ only takes signals from two electrodes, making it possible for long term use. In order to test its efficacy, an algorithm was developed to read the SubQ signals and determine instances of PGES in patients with seizures. While the algorithm was able to identify each instance of PGES, it also falsely labelled background EEG noise, meaning that modifications to the algorithm are still necessary. Still, the two-channel EEG showed a promising F1 score of 82%, suggesting that SubQ may be helpful in the study of epilepsy.
Outcomes and Implications
This study is important because prolonged PGES duration is associated with sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), and monitoring electrical activity can be paramount to understanding and preventing risk of injury. The findings suggest that SubQ has potential to act as an alternative to scalp EEG for continuous monitoring and indicate early intervention in epileptic patients. Ongoing refinement and research is still being conducted on the device in order to increase accuracy for clinical use.