The Role of EEG/Video/Polygraphic Monitoring in the Diagnosis and Management of Epilepsy

The diagnosis and management of seizure disorders is the area in which routine EEG has been of greatest clinical value. The episodic nature of epilepsy, however, renders routine EEGs inadequate to evaluate all seizure disorders because of sampling error. This problem has been partially solved by the development of EEG/video/polygraphic monitoring, which facilitates recording of ictal events. Intensive monitoring must be accurate and precise if it is to be cost effective. Good data are obtained by technologists who are present and in communication with comfortable patients who are on-camera throughout the recording.