ABSTRACT

Data obtained by the patient’s anamnesis and interictal routine EEG are sometimes not satisfactory for achieving a correct diagnosis of epilepsy. It is considered that some of the treatment resistant epilepsy patients are such kind of cases. In the present study, the contribution of long term video EEG monitoring (VEM) to treatment in the treatment resistant epilepsy patients was investigated.

Twenty-nine cases were enrolled into the study, and the epilepsy diagnosis and classification were re-evaluated. The ratio of cases who needed a change of treatment after the new diagnosis and classification was calculated.

A significant difference was seen in the diagnosis, classification and treatments (34,5%, 44,8%, 37,8%, respectively) before and after long-term VEM.

Long term VEM seems to be an important tool in re-evaluation of treatment resistant epilepsy patients and in achieving the correct diagnosis.

Keywords: Epilepsy, electroencephalography, seizures