Video‐EEG Monitoring in Adults

Summary: The routine EEG study may prove inadequate in selected patients with recurrent and unprovoked seizures. Video‐EEG monitoring is an important diagnostic innovation that may be used to confirm the diagnosis of a seizure disorder and classify seizure type. The methodologies and clinical applications of video‐EEG monitoring are reviewed. Long‐term EEG recordings may be performed as an outpatient or in an epilepsy monitoring unit. Potential techniques for video‐EEG monitoring include prolonged conventional routine EEG, ambulatory EEG, and computer‐assisted EEG recordings. Periictal SPECT studies performed during long‐term EEG recordings in the epilepsy monitoring unit may increase the diagnostic yield of a presurgical evaluation. Video‐EEG monitoring is essential for surgical localization in patients with intractable partial epilepsy being considered for a focal cortical resection. The studies may also be necessary to confirm the presence of nonepileptical clinical episodes.