Application of quantitative electroencephalogram monitoring in evaluating thrombolytic effect of acute cerebral infarction

OBJECTIVE To investigate the value of quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) in the evaluation of thrombolytic efficacy in acute cerebral infarction. METHODS A prospective cohort study was conducted. Ninety-four patients with acute cerebral infarction who received intravenous thrombolysis admitted to the department of emergency of Qinhuangdao First Hospital from October 2019 to September 2020 were enrolled. The relative energy values of δ, θ, α and β waves in qEEG before and 2 hours, 24 hours and 7 days after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) thrombolysis were dynamically monitored, and the power ratio index [DTABR, DTABR = (δ+θ)/(α+β)] was calculated. The National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score was also recorded. The reduction of NIHSS score ≥ 3 or the disappearance of neurological symptoms were regarded as effective thrombolytic therapy. The changes of DTABR before and after thrombolysis in patients with effective and ineffective thrombolysis were analyzed, and the correlation between DTABR and NIHSS score was analyzed by Pearson method. RESULTS A total of 94 patients were enrolled, including 64 males and 30 females. The average age was (61.71±10.11) years from 36 to 89 years old. Thrombolysis was effective in 57 cases and ineffective in 37 cases. Compared with before thrombolysis, DTABR of the effective group was significantly decreased at 2 hours, 24 hours and 7 days after thrombolysis (left cerebral infarction: 1.87±1.45, 1.59±0.88, 1.58±0.90 vs. 3.82±2.60; right cerebral infarction: 1.55±0.57, 1.41±0.50, 1.35±0.44 vs. 3.20±1.63, all P 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between DTABR and NIHSS score in patients with acute cerebral infarction (r = 0.691, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The quantitative index of qEEG, DTABR, can accurately and quickly monitor the process of thrombolysis in acute cerebral infarction, and can effectively evaluate the effect of thrombolysis in patients.