Role of short-term out patient video electroencephalography in diagnosis of paroxysmal disorders.

Background: To distinguish epileptic seizures from non-epileptic paroxysmal events, we often use video electroencephalography (EEG) recording. Long-term video electroencephalography recording for inpatients is of good value, but, it necessitates much resources (financial and manpower). There is some evidence suggesting that short-term video EEG (STVEEG) is useful, but its role in practice has yet to be evaluated.

Objective: To assess the usefulness of STVEEG in the diagnosis of different paroxysmal disorders and classifying epilepsy if present.

Methods: Thirty sex patients had STVEEG recordings (for 2h) during a 15 months period.

Results: A diagnostic event was recorded in 21 of 36 (58.3%) within the first 2h of monitoring: PNES (n=11), epilepsy (n=5), and other paroxysmal disorders e.g. syncope, hemifacial spasm, movement disorder (n=5).

Conclusions: STVEEG is a useful diagnostic technique in diagnosis of different paroxysmal disorders and it can be used as a successful screening test for saving other resources like prolonged inpatient video EEG recording.