Background: Telemedicine improves access to specialized medical expertise, as required for paroxysmal disorders. The Epilepsy Network Hessen Evaluation (ENHE) is a pilot cross-sectoral teleconsultation network connecting primary neurologists and pediatricians with epilepsy centers in Hessen, a federal German state. Methods: We prospectively and longitudinally evaluated telehealthcare in the ENHE. Participating physicians rated each consultation for satisfaction and impact on further management. The survey was administered at each consultation and 3 months later. Results: We analyzed 129 consultations involving 114 adult and pediatric patients. Their mean age was 34 years (standard deviation: 26, range: 0.1-91 years), 48% were female, and 34% were children and adolescents. The most common consultation requests were co-evaluation of an electroencephalogram (electroencephalogram [EEG]; 76%) and therapeutic (33%) and differential diagnosis (24%) concerns. Physicians transmitted one paraclinical examination on average (range: 1-4), predominantly EEG (85%), followed by magnetic resonance imaging (17%) and written records (9%). Response rates were 72% for the initial and 67% for the follow-up survey. Across respondents, 99% (n = 92) were satisfied with the ENHE. Overall, 80% of the consultations contributed to the diagnosis, and 90% were considered helpful for treatment, influencing it in 71% of cases. Seizure frequency had decreased more often (96%) than increased (4%) at 3 months. The initial diagnosis was confirmed in 78% of patients. Discussion: In this pilot teleconsultation network for paroxysmal disorders, diagnostic and therapeutic advice was perceived as helpful. Clinical outcomes were largely positive, suggesting tele-epileptology is viable for paroxysmal (seizure) disorders.
BACKGROUND: There are various imaging techniques for the assessment of the optic disc in glaucoma patients. However, anatomically conspicuous, large or small optic discs can be quite challenging for an examiner. OBJECTIVE: The Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is a modern approach for the quantitative measures of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL). The study focuses on comparison analysis of the BMO method and the widely used Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT) method - in terms of detection of glaucoma for different optic disc sizes. METHODS: 216 Patients examinations during glaucoma consultation hours. Macro- (Ma) and micro-optic discs (Mi) detected by HRT are analysed via BMO analysis in SD-OCT. Correlation between BMO area and optic disc measured by HRT has been investigated and examined in terms of severity of visual field defect (MD [dB]). RESULTS: The results of study show that for micro and macro-optic discs there is a modest correlation between the size of optic disc measured by BMO and the size of optic disc measured by HRT by applying funduscopic examination (correlation rate r = 0,53; Mi: n = 111, Ma: n = 105). For micro-optic discs with a very small BMO area (< 1.5 mm2), there is a significant tendency (linear trend test p < 0.05) towards deeper visual field defects (MD < - 5 dB). CONCLUSION: The BMO parameter of SD-OCT allows an assessment of glaucoma for a large range of optic disc sizes. BMO area and optic disc size measured by HRT are not correlated. Micro optic discs with a small BMO area lead to a higher risk of deep visual field defects.
Glaucoma , Optic Disk , Cross-Sectional Studies , Glaucoma/complications , Glaucoma/diagnosis , Humans , Intraocular Pressure , Nerve Fibers , Optic Disk/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Ganglion Cells , Retrospective Studies , Tomography, Optical Coherence/methods , Vision Disorders , Visual Fields
