Investment in epilepsy monitoring units improves epilepsy care-experience in a regional neuroscience centre

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Date
2017-08
Authors
McGinty, Ronan N.
Costello, Daniel J.
McNamara, Brian
Kinirons, Peter
Sweeney, Bernard J.
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Publisher
Irish Medical Organisation
Published Version
Research Projects
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Abstract
An evaluation of the clinical yield of inpatient long-term video-EEG (vEEG) in a new epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) was undertaken, with findings compared to the centre's prior method of bedside vEEG recording in a standard neurology ward, as reported in 2004. A retrospective analysis of neurophysiology reports for all adults who underwent elective vEEG monitoring in the EMU at Cork University Hospital between January 2015 and July 2016 was conducted. Of 115 vEEG studies in the EMU, 100 (87.0%) were deemed diagnostically conclusive, 14 (12.2%) failed to catch any clinical events and showed normal EEG throughout, and one (0.9%) captured spells of unclear clinical significanceĆ¢ the corresponding figures reported in 2004 for bedside vEEGs were 21.3%, 77% and 1.6%, respectively. The EMU offers a more effective method of recording inpatient vEEG, which aids decision-making and improves clinical outcomes. Some evidence-based measures which could further enhance diagnostic yield are discussed.
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Keywords
Video-EEG , Epilepsy monitoring unit
Citation
McGinty, R. N., Costello, D. J., McNamara, B., Kinirons, P. and Sweeney, B. J. (2017) 'Investment in epilepsy monitoring units improves epilepsy care-experience in a regional neuroscience centre', Irish Medical Journal, 110(7), 601 (5pp).
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Ā© 2017, Irish Medical Journal. All rights reserved.