WY Chan, KL Kwong, WW Wong, NS Kwong

Abstract

Electroencephalogram (EEG) aids the management of epilepsy. Sleep deprivation (SD) is useful to increase the diagnostic yields. However, there is concern about the burden imposed on family by depriving a child's sleep. The present study aims to evaluate the acceptability of SD-EEG. A two-year questionnaires survey was conducted in parents and children attending SD-EEG in the Electro-medical Diagnostic Unit, Tuen Mun Hospital. Preparation for the procedure was well accepted in 95%. Only 2.5% expressed very inconvenient to keep child awake. One-fifth of parents expressed inconvenience related to school non-attendance, 10% were anxious about seizure being triggered. No patient developed seizure related to the procedure. This survey indicates that SD is well tolerated and does not impose major burden. Resource implications of sleep deprivation in EEG may be considerable. Using SD-EEG as the preferred protocol may help to reduce the number of EEG carried out in children with seizures.