EEG and evoked potentials clinic
The office hours for EEG and evoked potentials are Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM.
EEG diagnostics: recordings are performed by Ronald Karlić, R. EEG T., Krešimir Matovina, MRT(T) and Nataša Rimac, MN
EEG
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a neurological diagnostic test performed using an EEG cap with electrodes placed on the patient's head, which records brain activity from the cortical area of the brain. A special EEG gel is used during the placement of the cap.
The procedure is painless and non-invasive, performed while the patient is lying down, and it is recommended that the patient remains as relaxed as possible during the recording. The recording itself lasts between 15 to 30 minutes.
The current brain activity (alpha, beta, theta, and delta waves) is displayed on a computer screen in the form of waves with varying frequencies. During the recording, the patient, who usually keeps their eyes closed for most of the session, is occasionally instructed to open their eyes, breathe deeply for a certain period, and at one point, a light of different frequencies is flashed as a method of provoking brain waves.
Patient Preparation for EEG
The patient should wash their hair the day before the test and avoid using lotion, hairspray, and/or hair gel.
If the patient is on medication, they should take their regular medication and bring a list of their medications with them before the recording.
Indications for EEG is used to diagnose various neurological disorders, including: epilepsy (recognizing abnormal brain waves that indicate seizures), sleep disorders (such as insomnia), traumatic brain injuries (assessing brain function after an injury), neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease or dementia), and states of altered consciousness (such as syncope or coma).
EVOKED POTENTIALS
They represent a painless functional electrophysiological method of registering the response of the examined nervous system to repeated stimulation by an adapted typed stimulus, via electrodes placed on the body and head.
Visual evoked potentials (VEP)
Visual evoked potentials are a neurophysiological technique for examining the visual pathway. The test is performed by stimulating the visual path with a structured visual stimulus - a chessboard shown on the TV screen. The response is registered by electrodes placed on the head in typical locations. Both eyes are examined individually, with multiple repeated stimulations (on average two to three times). The examination is performed by a neurophysiological technician. The examination is painless, lasts from 30 to 90 minutes (an hour on average) and requires the cooperation of patients. It is desirable that the respondent is well rested. They must not have dilated pupils, and they should bring prescription glasses with them if they use them. It is also necessary to bring accompanying neurological medical documentation and an ophthalmologist’s report is desirable if the patient has one. Clean, washed hair without a touch of hair spray and gel is desirable. It is desirable to eat before the examination and take the medications that the patient takes regularly (except for sedatives and medication that reduce concentration and attention, which may affect the patient's cooperation and the results of the examination).
BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials)
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials represent a neurophysiological technique of examining the auditory pathway, it serves in the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases of damage to the peripheral and central part of the auditory pathway. In routine neurological practice, auditory evoked potentials of short latency (up to 10 ms) generated in the brainstem are examined. Stimulation is performed by repeated tone click stimulation via audio headphones, and the hearing threshold is first determined for the test, individually on each ear. The response is registered via electrodes placed on the head, in typical places. Each ear is examined individually, with repeated stimulations (on average two to three times). The examination is performed by a neurophysiological technician; it is painless, lasts an average for about 60 minutes, requires simple cooperation of the subjects. Before the examination, it is desirable to inspect the ear canal and remove any cerumen (earwax). The subject should bring with them the accompanying neurological medical documentation, enclose the ENT documentation if they have it. Clean, washed hair without a touch of hair spray and gel is desirable. Before the examination, the subject is free to eat and drink and take all necessary medication.
SSEP (Somatosensory Evoked Potentials)
SSEP (Somatosensory Evoked Potentials) is a neurophysiological technique of touch sensation testing. It is most often used in the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases and damage to the spinal cord and brain. Stimulation is performed by repeated electrical stimulation via a surface electrode placed above the mixed peripheral nerve in typical places on the arm or leg (n. medianus in the wrist on the arm, or n. tibialis posterior behind the medial malleol on the leg). The response is registered by electrodes placed in typical places on the body and head. Stimulation is performed repeatedly (on average two to three times), individually on each arm or leg. The examination is performed by a physiological assistant. The examination is painless, takes 30-90 minutes (60 minutes on average for both n. medianus, 60-90 minutes for both n. tibialis), requires simple patient cooperation. The subject should be relaxed during the test; it is allowed to sleep during the search. The patient is allowed to eat and drink and take all regular medication, before the examination. The patient should bring with them the accompanying neurological medical documentation and an adequate referral. It is desirable for the subject to have clothing that is easy to remove because the electrodes are placed on the limbs, along the spine and on the head. Clean, washed hair without a touch of hair spray and gel is desirable.
(CEP) Cognitive evoked potentials
Cognitive evoked potentials are a neurophysiological technique of examining the cognitive response to an auditory stimulus through the response of the patient's hand by pressing a button that is connected to the device. It shows the response time to the stimulus and whether the patient recognized an audibly different tone/click from the usual frequency in the background of the recording. During the test, the patient has audio headphones. The preparation of the patient and the imaging with the patient is performed by a neurophysiological technician, and the finding is analyzed by a specialist neurologist. The test results are compared with standardized norms obtained on a sample of a healthy population. The data obtained by the evoked potentials technique, in addition to a clinical examination and other neurological diagnostic tests, give the doctor a better insight into the functional state of the investigated sensory system and the localization of the pathological process, and contribute to the diagnosis and serve in the monitoring of a number of neurological and other diseases and conditions. People who use glasses, lenses or hearing aids must bring them with them to the examination. It is necessary to have clean hair. The test result in written form can be collected by the respondent in the Clinic within a week or can be sent to their home address.
Evoked potentials - diagnostics: recordings are performed by: Krešimir Matovina, MRT(T), Nataša Vuković, MN
Ordering for the search is done through the Central Patient Ordering Unit and by phone/fax number +385 051/750-658 or by email spec.prijem@sb-insula.hr