Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
New Patients
Contact Us: 919-350-3734Fax a Referral
919-350-6292Our WakeMed Epilepsy Monitoring team is pleased to provide the highest quality, most compassionate care to patients facing epileptic seizure disorders. Referred patients can expect the most advanced, customized diagnoses and treatment options for their conditions.
About Our Unit
Our Epilepsy Monitoring unit consists of two private rooms within our 5th floor Neuro Intermediate unit at WakeMed Raleigh Campus. Each room has a private bathroom, TV and room phone.
You will undergo continuous electroencephalographic (cEEG) monitoring with video and audio recording. Your care will be managed by a team that includes neurologists, advanced practice providers, nursing staff and EEG technologists.
The duration of your stay will depend on your health care team's recommendations; however, it usually lasts between two to five days.
Admissions Process
Upon admission, you will visit patient registration for check-in and then be escorted to the Epilepsy Monitoring unit. Once in your room, you will meet your nurse, who will give you a tour of your room.
What to Expect During Your Stay
Once settled into your room, an EEG technologist will arrive to set up your cEEG. Our state-of-the-art, comprehensive process involves the following:
- Measuring your head
- Making small marks
- Cleaning your scalp
- Placing leads over various spots on your scalp
These leads will be secured with a water-soluble adhesive to ensure they remain in place during your stay. After placing all the leads, the EEG tech will wrap your head and provide you with a bag to carry the small piece of equipment during your stay.
Before leaving, the EEG tech will review the EMU log with you and your family and provide instructions on what to include in it, as well as directions on when to push the red event marker.
Once the recording has started, a remote monitoring tech will then begin monitoring your EEG recording and will continue to do so throughout your stay, alerting the neurologist of any concerning activity.
To ensure we capture a seizure that may occur, it may be necessary to lower or stop the antiseizure medication you are taking. For safety reasons, staff will accompany you on all walks, including to the bathroom. We encourage you to stay in bed or your bedside recliner.
Your medical team will meet with you daily to discuss your EEG data and determine the next steps for monitoring. Additionally, the EEG technologist will check on you daily to ensure all leads are secure and to perform some activations, including using a strobe light and conducting breathing exercises. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about your diagnosis and treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are no restrictions on the amount of daytime visitors you may have. One adult visitor can stay overnight in the recliner. For safety reasons, visitors are not allowed to sleep in bed with you.
All meals will be provided, and you are welcome to bring in your own snacks and drinks.
You may bring activities to pass the time, such as books, games, crafts or laptops.
We recommend wearing comfortable clothing, such as button-downs, loose-fitting or short-sleeve shirts, and shorts or sweatpants.
You may also bring your own pillows and blankets from home if you prefer.
When the monitoring is complete, your medical team will discuss the findings with you and your family and explain if any further diagnostic testing is needed, as well as any follow-up appointments. Once the discharge order is placed, the EEG technologist will remove all the electrodes from your room using warm soapy water. Some redness around the electrode site is normal and should dissipate over time.
Certain patients may benefit from an EMU stay. Here are the most likely candidates:
People with Hard-to-Control Seizures: If experiencing frequent or severe seizures even though you are on medication you may benefit from EMU admission. The EMU can help identify the type and origin of seizures to tailor more effective treatments.
Unclear Diagnosis: Patients with uncertain diagnoses, where it's unclear if episodes are epileptic seizures or another condition, can benefit from the extended monitoring.
Medication Changes: Patients who need adjustments to their seizure medications can be closely monitored in an EMU to safely manage and observe the effects of these change.
Considering Surgery: If you're thinking about epilepsy surgery, an EMU can pinpoint where your seizures start and help decide if surgery is right for you.