Long-term video-EEG monitoring is an advanced diagnostic tool used to evaluate brain activity over an extended period, ranging from several hours to several days. This method combines continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings with video observation, allowing clinicians to capture both brain wave patterns and physical behaviors.
It is particularly helpful in diagnosing conditions like epilepsy, where the correlation between seizures and brain activity is crucial. Video-EEG is also valuable for detecting sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and parasomnias, as it allows for the observation of abnormal behaviors during sleep alongside brain activity.
The EEG leads are placed on your head with a special paste called collodion. In contrast, most short, outpatient EEGs are done using a cap, or with a different type of paste. The head (and electrodes) are usually covered by a cap or gauze dressing.