This is a stage 4 module on the B.Sc. in Clinical measurement designed for students taking Clinical Neurophysiology as a major and minor subject for awarding of their level eight qualification. The aim of this module is to increase the conceptual and applied understanding of the role of the Clinical Physiologist in Neurophysiology. It also aims to further develop those skills required to perform clinical measurements in the field of clinical neurophysiology to provide diagnostic information. Students should become knowledgeable in relation to advanced practice elements of this field of clinical investigations and have the ability to integrate relevant auxiliary clinical information to inform their practice. Also, they should demonstrate the ability to appraise those factors which contribute towards effective patient centred care in Clinical Neurophysiology.
Normal Routine EEG aetiology: proposed source of activity, Expected normal patterns for Normal waking adult, Normal sleeping adult, Normal Paediatric, Normal sleeping Paediatric, Normal Variants, Considerations for interpretation as normal, quantification of normal patterns, activation procedures, technical requirements.
Abnormal EEG aetiology: Considerations for interpretation of abnormality, Non- specific Abnormal Adult, abnormal variants, non-specific abnormal paediatric, specific abnormal paediatric.
Epilepsy: Seizure generation and classification, Clinical presentation, EEG aetiology and interpretation, seizure classification, mechanisms for treatment.
Epilepsy Monitoring: Ambulatory, long term monitoring of EEG activity.
Non-routine EEG: Technical requirements for performance of testing, Considerations for interpretation.
EEG in various neurological conditions: Psychiatric illness, Coma, Braindeath, Trauma, Metabolic Disturbance, Infection, Drug intake, EEG patterns, clinical presentation and technical considerations.
Neurological Investigations: CT, MRI, PET, MEG, ERG, EMG, neurological examination, uses, relevance to interpretation in clinical neurophysiology.
Polysomnography: Role of EEG, methods, technical considerations, interpretation of results.
Nerve Conduction Studies: Underlying physiology, Rationale for referral, methods, technical considerations, interpretation of results, integration of auxiliary clinical information.
Evoked Potentials: Underlying physiology, Rationale for referral, methods, technical considerations, interpretation of results, integration of auxiliary clinical information for visual evoked potentials, brainstem auditory evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials.
Clinical application of VEP, BAEP, SSEP. Use of Evoked Potentials in paediatrics.
Neonatal EEG: Technical challenges of the neonate. Recognise changes and EEG patterns of the premature and neonatal stages which signify maturation and development. Recognise sleep waking phenomena to mark the infant’s neurological health. Match EEG patterns against the patient’s conceptual age.
IOM: Aims of Neurophysiology Intraoperative Monitoring. Commonly monitored procedures. Current standards of care. Intraoperative monitoring and mapping of the spinal cord. Vasculature & physiology of the spinal cord. Monitoring in Spinal deformity surgery. Protocols for use of SSEP and Motor Evoked Responses in spinal surgery. The effects of anaesthetics on NIOM. Alarm criteria for SSEP and MEP. NIOM protocols post alarm changes in SSEP and MEP. Surgical treatment of epilepsy. Pre-op Long term monitoring with implanted electrodes. Electrocorticography methodology and interpretation. Functional cortical mapping. Vagal Nerve Stimulation
Lectures and self directed learning
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 100 |