The Epilepsy Center has a 6 bed EMU dedicated exclusively to adults along with a 5 bed pediatric EMU. These units allow us to:
- classify seizures
- quantify seizures
- evaluate seizure precipitants
- test new antiepileptic drug therapy
- localize brain origin(s) of seizure for epilepsy surgery
Our units are dedicated to observing patients with epilepsy to detect exactly when their seizures occur and what type of seizures they have. The EMU has around the clock 24/7 EEG/video monitoring.
What to expect in the EMU:
- Patients with epilepsy or other paroxysmal disorders of unknown etiology are hospitalized and continuous EEG and video recordings are performed for an average of 5 days
- During the hospitalization antiepileptic medications are usually either decreased or completely withdrawn in an attempt to facilitate the occurrence of seizures
- Highly specialized physicians with extensive training in EEG/video monitoring (epileptologists) analyze the EEG/video information collected during the hospitalization
- This information, together with complementary clinical tests, is then used to establish a precise diagnosis of the type of seizures the patient is suffering from
The results of the EEG/video monitoring are available within 24 hours.