Video-EEG monitoring in adults.

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.