So long as the video and EEG data are acquired, stored, and displayed with good quality, where the data (home versus hospital) is captured has become largely irrelevant. However, with the improvement in computer storage, processing, and remote access, most functions of EEG-video can be obtained in an ambulatory or home setting. Until recently, it has been assumed that prolonged EEG-video monitoring had to be performed with an admission to the hospital. If focal (in a specific area of the brain), where is the likely focus?.In most cases, EEG-video monitoring will help answer the following questions: Because it is both prolonged and with video, there is a greater chance of capturing interictal discharges and recording the episodes in question. Obviously the longer the better as it increases the time available to sample the EEG, but there are practical limitations to longer times.įor the epilepsy specialist, this is the gold standard and the starting point to care for people whose seizures do not respond to basic treatment. The terms “prolonged” and “long-term”monitoring have no strict definition, so it is probably best to specify length of testing, i.e., 2-hour, 6-hour, 24-hour, 3-day, etc.Epilepsy monitoring and EEG monitoring are general terms that specify neither what is monitored (video or not) nor for how long, and probably should not be used.This term is often used to mean the same thing as EEG-video monitoring. It does not necessarily include video, and there is no definition of how many hours make up “long term.” It is usually associated with video recording even though it is not in its name. Long-term monitoring: this term is confusing because it only refers to length of testing.EEG-video monitoring: this is usually assumed to be inpatient and prolonged (done over a number of days).The length of recording can vary and it may be done with or without video. Ambulatory EEG: recording the person's EEG in the outpatient setting or at home, usually for 1 to 3 days.Prolonged EEG: 1 to 2 hours may be done with or without video.The most common are photic stimulation (fast, flashing lights or patterns), hyperventilation (very quick breathing), and sleep deprivation (staying up late the night before). Often this is done with standard “activation procedures” that increase the chance of capturing seizure-like discharges or even seizures. Routine EEG: may take only 20 to 30 minutes, usually without video (but this can easily be added).

Normal vs epilepsy eeg