论文信息 - A further critical evaluation of requests for electrodiagnostic examinations

A further critical evaluation of requests for electrodiagnostic examinations

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of electrophysiological (EDX) tests in the clinical management and diagnosis of patients, and the appropriateness of the referral diagnosis. A study was carried out in three electrodiagnostic services in the Torino area, over a 12-month period. In our study 3,900 individuals (2,340 females, 1,560 males) were evaluated. Patients underwent EDX examinations including nerve conduction study, electromyography and repetitive stimulation test. Most patients had been sent for EDX tests by specialists. Specialists suspected mainly polyneuropathy, whilst general practitioners suspected mainly carpal tunnel syndrome. Seventy-two percent of the requests were correctly formulated, 55% by general practitioners and 77% by specialists. There was a concordance between the results of the EDX tests and diagnostic hypothesis 40% of the time. This study confirms the usefulness and diagnostic impact of EDX examinations and evidences the amount of time and resources wasted as a result of incorrect or incomplete requests.

[1] S Podnar,et al. Critical reappraisal of referrals to electromyography and nerve conduction studies * , 2005, European journal of neurology.

[2] S Vingtoft,et al. Differences in the handling of the EMG examination at seven European laboratories. , 1994, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[3] N. Spielholz. Electrodiagnostic services in the United States , 2004, Muscle & nerve.

[4] A. Federico,et al. Requests for electromyography from general practitioners and specialists: critical evaluation , 1998, The Italian Journal of Neurological Sciences.