title: Time distribution of epileptic seizures during video-EEG monitoring. Implications for health insurance systems in developing countries.
abstract: An attempt was made to identify guidelines to help establish epilepsy monitoring units in developing countries. We assessed the time distribution of seizures during video-EEG monitoring and we also estimated the minimum time required for such a procedure and the impact of these variables upon the health insurance system. Mean time for recording five stereotyped clinical events was 72 hours, with a significant number of events recorded between midnight and 0600 hours (P < 0.05). This pilot study may help to establish local policies that will warrant an adequate work-up for our patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Epilepsy Program, Instituto de Investigaciones, Neurológicas Raúl Carrea (FLENI), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Quiroga
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pirra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Podestá
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Leiguarda
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rabinowicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017286:Polysomnography; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants