title: Prolonged video-EEG in identifying paroxysmal nonepileptic events in children with epilepsy: a useful tool.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Habitual events, behaviors, and nonepileptic events can be easily confused with epileptic seizures in children in the absence of clear description and can be challenging, even for an experienced clinician. The aim was to report on the usefulness of adding video-EEG to routine EEG studies of infants and children with frequent atypical paroxysmal events.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of video-EEG carried over a 2-year period in a tertiary pediatric neurology center. Outcomes were classified as: "conclusive epileptic," "conclusive nonepileptic," "unremarkable," and "inconclusive."
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four children (M:F 19:25) with an age range of 1 to 15 years (mean: 7 years, median: 8.5 years) were analyzed. Thirty (68%) children had successful epilepsy classification. A diagnosis of a specific nonepileptic event was reached in 55% of cases. Antiepileptic drugs were discontinued completely in 8 patients (20%), and the total number of antiepileptic drugs was reduced in 13 others (33%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paroxysmal nonepileptic events can cause diagnostic confusion, particularly in children with developmental delay, epilepsy (especially refractory epilepsy), or those with previous "abnormal" EEG. Accurate diagnosis can be reached in the majority of cases using prolonged video-EEG monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Aman P S
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sohal
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Nahin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hussain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording