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Importance of access to epilepsy monitoring units during the COVID‐19 pandemic: consensus statement of the International League Against Epilepsy and the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology ∗
Author(s) -
Beniczky Sándor,
Husain Aatif,
Ikeda Akio,
Alabri Haifa,
Cross J. Helen,
Wilmshurst Jo,
Seeck Margitta,
Focke Niels,
Braga Patricia,
Wiebe Samuel,
Schuele Stephan,
Trinka Eugen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
epileptic disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.673
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1950-6945
pISSN - 1294-9361
DOI - 10.1684/epd.2021.1292
Subject(s) - epilepsy , pandemic , clinical neurophysiology , electroencephalography , medicine , telemedicine , covid-19 , telehealth , medical emergency , health care , psychiatry , disease , political science , law , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Restructuring of healthcare services during the COVID‐19 pandemic has led to lockdown of epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs) in many hospitals. The ad‐hoc taskforce of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (IFCN) highlights the detrimental effect of postponing video‐EEG monitoring of patients with epilepsy and other paroxysmal events. The taskforce calls for action for continued functioning of EMUs during emergency situations, such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. Long‐term video‐EEG monitoring is an essential diagnostic service. Access to video‐EEG monitoring of the patients in the EMUs must be given high priority. Patients should be screened for COVID‐19, before admission, according to the local regulations. Local policies for COVID‐19 infection control should be adhered to during the video‐EEG monitoring. In cases of differential diagnosis in which reduction of antiseizure medication is not required, home video‐EEG monitoring should be considered as an alternative in selected patients.