EEG

Electroencephalography

The EEG Department provides a comprehensive assessment service. This service is available to all residents, patients on assessment, and on an outpatient basis.

The service includes:

Routine EEG Recordings

An EEG is a recording of the brain's electrical activity. Small metal discs called electrodes are placed on the surface of the scalp and are helped in place by a sticky paste. A recording of the electrical activity of the brain can then be made. You may be asked to breath deeply (hyperventilate) and later have a strobe light in front of you.

Ambulatory Recordings

This is similar to a routine EEG the electrodes are connected to a compact portable recorder which is worn around the waist. This enables the recording of the brains’ activity whilst not being confirmed to the department. We are able to monitor the EEG during daily activities and sleep, The recording can last from 24 hours to several days increasing the possibility of capturing intermittent abnormalities or attacks.

Video Telemetry Monitoring

This is a more sophisticated method of recording the EEG over long periods. It allows the EEG to be superimposed on a synchronized video image, allowing correlation of clinical events and EEG activity.

This enables the doctors and technicians to establish the nature of attacks particularly when the nature is unclear, identifying and determining seizure type or non epileptic attack disorders. It is especially useful in assessing whether patients whose epilepsy has been difficult to control with drug treatment may benefit from epilepsy surgery.

The length of recording depends on how often attacks are occurring, but is usually between 2 to 10 days.

Facilities

Video Telemetry is provided in three specially designed suites within the Adult Assessment Unit.
Each suite is designed for freedom of movement during the procedure. The rooms are en-suite and are equipped with TV, video, DVD radio and tea/coffee making facilities