Epilepsy is a common disorder affecting approximately 1–2% of the population. About 35% of these patients are resistant to treatment and require specialized evaluations for epilepsy surgery, which is one of the main responsibilities of the Brain Monitoring Unit. Another group of patients experiences suspicious seizure-like movements and may suffer from psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES); the definitive diagnosis of this condition is also among the responsibilities of the Brain Monitoring Unit.

Given the high percentage of drug-resistant epilepsy among epilepsy patients and the possibility of more severe complications in these individuals, special attention and thorough evaluation are considered essential and vital in order to control seizures. These patients are resistant to medical therapy, and therefore the use of other treatment methods for seizure control is necessary.

The most important diagnostic method currently used worldwide for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy is Long-term Video-EEG Monitoring (LTM). LTM, or long-term monitoring with video and electroencephalography, is a method in which patients’ brain activity is recorded continuously over several days while seizures are simultaneously captured on video. This allows accurate localization of the epileptic focus. Once the seizure focus is identified and the lesion causing the seizures is surgically removed, epilepsy can often be controlled very effectively. In many cases, epilepsy surgery leads to complete recovery, discontinuation of anti-epileptic medications, reduction of complications caused by long-term medication use, decreased risks associated with recurrent seizures, and ultimately significant improvement in patients’ quality of life.

In recent years, despite the availability of epilepsy surgery in Iran, the lack of LTM facilities in the province forced patients with drug-resistant epilepsy to endure long waiting periods and travel to other cities such as Tehran and Isfahan for LTM procedures, causing considerable hardship. In 2019, Farabi Hospital established the first Epilepsy Monitoring Unit in Kermanshah Province and neighboring provinces in order to provide LTM services. This initiative was undertaken so that epilepsy patients and their families could benefit from the latest modern diagnostic and therapeutic facilities and experience reduced suffering and difficulties.

Epilepsy Monitoring Unit – Farabi Hospital, Kermanshah

At the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit of Farabi Hospital, patients are admitted for several days under the supervision of neurologists specialized in epilepsy (epilepsy fellowship-trained physicians) along with experienced and specially trained nursing staff. During hospitalization, continuous EEG recording and seizure monitoring are performed. At the end of the admission period, patients are discharged with appropriate medical treatment. After reviewing the patients’ around-the-clock monitoring findings, the medical team determines the seizure focus and subsequently makes decisions regarding epilepsy surgery in consultation with the patient and their family.

It is hoped that by providing the necessary facilities for the latest diagnostic and therapeutic methods in epilepsy care, we can take an important step toward serving epilepsy patients and their families.