Úvod - Diagnostika a léčba - Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation - Video-EEG

Video EEG

Long-term video-EEG monitoring is a key diagnostic tool in epileptology. It involves the simultaneous recording of EEG brain activity, single-lead ECG, and video footage of the patient.

Being able to observe what happens to you physically during your typical seizure is incredibly helpful in making an accurate diagnosis.

The more precisely we can classify the type of your seizures, the better the chances of selecting the most effective treatment and ultimately achieving better seizure control.

You may be referred for video-EEG monitoring in the following situations:

When epilepsy surgery is being considered:
Video-EEG helps determine the type of seizures and locate the region of the brain from which they originate, which is essential for surgical planning.
To assess seizure control:
Long-term EEG monitoring can show whether your epilepsy is well-managed, and whether there are unnoticed or subclinical seizures occurring without your awareness.
To confirm the diagnosis of epilepsy:
If you experience unusual seizure-like episodes, video-EEG can help confirm whether they are truly epileptic.
If no clear EEG changes are seen during an event, we may investigate other possible causes and recommend further testing or a different treatment approach.
When evaluating fitness to drive:

In some cases, video-EEG is used to help assess your medical eligibility to drive a motor vehicle, particularly when seizure control is uncertain.

What to Expect During the Examination?

Video-EEG monitoring is a safe and painless diagnostic procedure, conducted during a hospital stay. Throughout the monitoring period, EEG electrodes will be attached to your scalp using conductive paste, and will continuously record your brain activity 24 hours a day. At the same time, a video camera will record your physical behavior, transmitting live footage to the nursing station and saving it for detailed analysis by your medical team.

This simultaneous recording of brain waves and physical behavior—especially during a seizure—allows us to correlate visible symptoms with changes in brain activity, providing crucial information for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

To ensure a successful video-EEG monitoring, it may sometimes be necessary to provoke a seizure in a controlled setting. This can be done by temporarily reducing the dose of your anti-seizure medication or by limiting sleep, as instructed by your physician.

How Long Does It Take?

The total hospital stay for video-EEG monitoring is typically around 10 days, with the monitoring itself lasting at least 4 days, depending on the type and frequency of your seizures. Ideally, we aim to record 2 to 3 seizures to gather sufficient diagnostic information.

For patients undergoing evaluation of fitness to drive, video-EEG monitoring usually lasts 1 to 3 days.

It is essential that you remain in bed throughout the entire monitoring period, except for brief times when you need to attend to personal hygiene or use the restroom. This ensures the continuous recording of EEG and video data, which is crucial for an accurate assessment.

Where Cay You Have a Video-EEG?

Adult Patients

The video-EEG monitoring unit is located on the 5th floor of Building C1. Your attending neurologist will schedule your hospital admission for video-EEG monitoring as part of your diagnostic plan.

The unit includes four monitored beds, each separated by privacy screens to ensure patient comfort during the stay.

For adult patients with more severe intellectual disabilities who require the presence of a parent or caregiver throughout the hospitalization, a private monitored room is available to accommodate their specific needs.

Paediatric Patients

For the video-EEG examination, your child will be admitted to the 4th floor of Pavilion G at the Department of Pediatric Neurology in the Children’s Hospital. The admission will be arranged by your child’s attending neurologist.

The video-EEG monitoring unit includes one monitored bed for the patient and one for a parent, allowing you to stay together throughout the hospitalization.

During the hospital stay, school instruction can continue directly at the bedside, similar to other pediatric hospitalizations, ensuring minimal disruption to your child’s education.