Heart Rate Studies in Association With Electroencephalography (EEG) as a Means of Assessing the Progress of Head Injuries

Abstract

When EEG recordings are taken from patients with head injuries, whilst at the same the ECG and respiration are monitored, striking features are the very marked changes in heart rate (HR) that occur, often accompanying spontaneous changes in the EEG. These changes can be seen even when the respiration is controlled by a ventilator. If such recordings are taken every day following an injury they do not remain constant. During the first few days there is a striking increase in the amount of variation seen and then, later, the variation becomes much less.