USEFULNESS OF VIDEO-EEG MONITORING IN CHILDREN

Purpose : To analyze the sensitivity of the v-EEG for detecting clinical events and analyze therapeutic changes after the reading. Method: A retrospective, descriptive study of 178 pediatric v-EEGs recordings at the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires from January 2011 to February 2012. The V-EEG were divided in: With epileptic clinical events, with nonepileptic clinical events and Uneventful. We analyzed the therapeutic changes. The data were analyzed using univariate statistics. Results : Age was: 1 month to 17 years (median 9.1). Clinical events were recorded in 120/178 (67.4%), 81/178 (45.5%), were Epileptic and 39/178 (21.4%) non-epileptic. The sensitivity of the v-EEG divided by duration was: 6 h 71.2%, 24 h 68.9% and 48 h or more 78%. According to the age distribution the sensitivity was: 69.8% in preschoolers, 58.97% in school and 82.14% in adolescents. The sensitivity for detection of clinical events was better in 6 hs. v-EEG in preschoolers (p < 0.05) and in 48 hs. v-EEG in all ages (p < 0.05). The therapeutic approach was changed in 72/178 (40.4%). AEDs were indicated in 9.75%, AEDs were modified in 63.9%, AEDs were suspended in 2.75%, epilepsy surgery was indicated in 9.75%, were referred to mental service health 9.75% and ketogenic diet was indicated or suspended in 4.1%. Conclusion : The v-EEG was useful for the detection of clinical events in two thirds of the patients and the sensitivity was higher in those that lasted two days or more. The modification of AEDs was the most frequent therapeutic change.