Intracranial EEG monitoring

The intracranial EEG is performed to gather precise data on areas of the brain that cannot be obtained by a conventional scalp EEG.  The procedure is useful for monitoring seizure symptoms in cases where surgical treatment for epilepsy may be required.

By placing electrodes over the surface of the brain or within the brain, more detail as to where seizure activity occurs is gained. With this information, the neurosurgeon can be precise in removing diseased tissue while sparing functional brain tissue.

Electrodes are placed by means of either a craniotomy or burr holes. A craniotomy is a surgical procedure where the skull is opened by a piece of bone being removed, while burr holes are small holes drilled into the skull.

Both the insertion and removal of the electrodes are performed in the operating room by a neurosurgeon. Once they have been placed, the electrodes are connected to continuous EEG equipment and seizures are monitored in the intensive care unit. When sufficient seizure activity has been successfully captured the electrodes are surgically removed.