Fig. 1

Aspect, prevalence, and prognostic value of EEG patterns in sepsis-associated encephalopathy. (Prevalence and prognosis data from Azabou et al. [31], Berisavac et al. [32], Gilmore et al. [36], Hosokawa et al. [30], Benghanem et al. [37], Velissaris et al. [28]). ^⊥These EEG patterns observed without concomitant sedation were associated with mortality. Definitions: Background frequency is described as δ (0.2–3.5 Hz), θ (4–7.5 Hz), α (8–13 Hz) or β (14–30 Hz) bands. Low voltage (200ms). Sporadic triphasic waves: rare slow wave with an initial negative deflection (upward) followed by a positive component (downward) and then negative again; when associated to encephalopathy, they are ample diffuse slow waves, frequently prominent in the fronto-central regions. Periodic discharges: abundant periodic abnormalities (spike or wave, with a return to the EEG background between abnormalities), during >50% of the recording. Rhythmic discharges: abundant rhythmic discharges (spike or wave, without return to the EEG background between abnormalities) during >50% of the recording. Electrographic seizure: rhythmic discharges at >2.5 Hz for ≥10 seconds or any pattern with definite spatio-temporal evolution and lasting ≥10 seconds