Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU)

Specialized Monitoring To Diagnose and Treat Your Epilepsy

Epilepsy, seizures and seizure-like disorders can be challenging to treat. Every person with seizures is different, and the best treatment may include medication, stimulation techniques, diets or surgical procedures.

Identifying the most appropriate treatment plan for you or your family member starts with a thorough evaluation and diagnosis. Equipped with computer-based monitoring equipment expressly designed for the evaluation of seizure disorders, the EMU team can gather data before a seizure starts, while one is occurring and during recovery.

This approach can provide answers about your seizures’ characteristics and help doctors identify the type(s) of seizures and other clues that can shape your treatment.

The Mount Sinai South Nassau EMU is equipped with advanced video-electroencephalogram (EEG) diagnostic technology and digital video monitors and is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of specialists lead by leading epileptologists David Aharonoff, MD, and Calvin Yu, MD, co-directors of the unit, neuroradiologists, nurses, social workers and EEG technologists.

Common Indications for Seizures

• To capture and characterize target events and determine if those are seizures or not
• Establish or confirm the diagnosis of epilepsy
  
• Classify the type of epilepsy and find the most appropriate medical therapy
• Define the location of the seizure focus in the brain. This information is essential in certain cases where medications fail to control seizures and your doctor wants to determine if you are a good candidate for epilepsy surgery or not
• Monitor response to anti-seizure medications (ASM) and make appropriate medication adjustments.
• Determine if you have seizures that you are not even aware of
  

EMU Admission Process

• Our administrative coordinator will be in communication with you about the elective date of admission/time/location etc.
  
• You will check in at the admitting office to complete the admission process.
  
• You will then be directed to go to our EMU unit and be assigned a room.  
  
• While in the EMU, a nurse and the epileptologist will take a complete history and do a detailed neurological examination on arrival.  
  
• A trained technician will place EEG electrodes on your head using a special paste/glue. The electrodes are very small metallic discs. A gauze will be wrapped around your head to keep the electrodes in place. You will not experience any pain during the application of electrodes.  
  
• Video EEG test will start, and we will monitor your brain rhythms continuously by performing a test called electroencephalogram (EEG). Please be aware there will be a camera in your room. We encourage our patients to stay on the camera so that their events/seizures can be reviewed by their doctors. Note that your doctor has access to your Video EEG recording remotely.  
  
• There are audio and video recordings in the room so that patients and family members, or our staff can see and describe the nature of the events/seizures.
  
• You will be encouraged to push the event button in case you experience any symptoms just before your events/seizures.  
  
• The patient care assistant will be watching you 24/7 to alert the EMU team in case you have an event/seizure.  
  
• Our EEG technologists and epilepsy physicians will be reviewing your video EEG data daily.  
  
• Visitors will be allowed to visit you during the visiting hours as per hospital policy.
  
• You will be attached to EEG cables, but you will be able to move freely in the room and use the rest room.
  
• Showers are not allowed while the EEG leads are placed on your head.
  
• Your epileptologist or assigned attending physician will be overseeing the admission and will make rounds every day.
  
• Your doctor may lower your medications to capture events/seizures in certain cases. An intravenous line (IV) may be placed in your forearm so that emergency rescue medications can be given.
  
• The EEG leads will be disconnected on the day of the discharge.
  

How to Prepare for Your Visit

• Wash your hair before the test with shampoo but do not apply any conditioners or other hair products. During the stay you will not be able to wet your hair.
  
• Bring all current medications and vitamins supplements you are taking-once verified, your family can take them back home, our pharmacy will dispense their own medications but it is imperative that we have the most updated information about your drug allergies and current medications you are on.
  
• Bring your Seizure/event calendar listing recent seizures and their description
  
• Wear Loose-fitting clothing, including shirts and tops that button up in the front: no pullovers or T-shirts  
  
• Bring Books, movies, or a laptop/tablet to keep you occupied during your stay.

Planning Your Visit

• Different patients require different lengths of stay. Some stay just overnight, and others may require staying for several days. The length of stay depends on the goals of admission. The discharge plan will be reviewed with you by our team daily. Your doctor might be able to tell you the approximate length of stay in advance. 
  
• Free Wi-Fi is available in all rooms.  
  
• Continue your normal diet unless otherwise instructed. If you have specific dietary requirements, please inform us when you schedule your hospitalization.
  

Learn More

Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU)
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