Serving the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire of Georgia and South Carolina.

Ambulatory 24 Hour EEG with Video Telemetry

Seizures

When children or adults have seizures, a careful medical examination as well as diagnostic testing can help to determine a plan of care. Age, Family History, and the cause of seizure if known, are all among the factors to be considered.

Having an Ambulatory Video EEG Test

Diagnostic EEG testing can be performed on an ambulatory basis. You will be asked to come to the SouthCoast Medical Clinic for an ambulatory EEG “set-up” and then you are able to return to home or work during the testing process which typically takes 1-3 days depending on the physicians’ order. During the setup, a technologist  will educate you on the process and answer your questions about this safe and painless procedures. Sixteen to 24 electrodes will be placed on your head using a conductive paste and special adhesive to hold the electrodes in place, which will be cleared from your head at the end of the procedure.

The electrodes are small metal discs with thin wires that will be connected to a small head-mounted amplifier which records your brainwaves. Once the setup is complete, your head is wrapped with gauze to hold everything in place. The technologist will provide you with supplies and instructions for your use during the test. There is also a toll free help line 800 334-3053, for any questions that arise during or following the test. There is a small transportable recorder box that includes a video camera that will record all the brain wave activity and video for the recording period.

Benefits of Ambulatory Video EEG Testing

A typical 20 minute EEG performed in the clinic will rarely capture an event and consequently is of little value to the clinician trying to make a diagnosis. Less than 5% of 20 minute EEGs pick up abnormalities, even when there is a known case of Epilepsy, or recurrent unprovoked seizures, the yield on a typical EEG is very low. Ambulatory Video EEG testing will monitor you while at home or work, and during Sleep, which is actually when most seizures occur which significantly increases the probability of making a correct diagnosis. Another advantage of ambulatory video EEG testing is ruling out that a particular event is actually not a seizure that requires lifelong administration with anticonvulsant medication, but may be due to another cause, such as a cardiac issue, panic attack, fainting spell, or a number of other common conditions typically misdiaganosed as Epilepsy.

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