Home Video Telemetry

The investigation will be carried out by a clinical physiologist. Throughout the investigation you will be seated in an armchair or lying in a bed.

There is a 30-45 minute preparation which involves the physiologist attaching small disposable discs onto your head using a sticky, water-soluble paste.  The scalp will be cleaned with a gritty cream before electrode is attached.  Additional electrodes will be applied on the shoulder area to record heart rate.

Please inform the physiologist if you have any allergies to latex or plaster tape before the procedure.

Once the discs are in place, brainwaves will be recorded. The physiologist will make sure that the recording instruments work. You can then leave the department and follow your usual activity while the machine records.

Using the equipment at home:

Full instructions and a demonstration of the equipment will be given when you come to the department on the day of your appointment. The most important points to remember are:

• When setting up the camera at home, make sure that it is in a safe, stable position away from children and pets. It is important it is not interfered with while it is recording.
• Plug the video camera into the mains power to keep it fully charged.
• Make sure you are clearly visible on the camera.
• Press the record button as instructed.
• Press the event marker (button) as instructed and write in the diary if you have an event.
• Do not shower or bathe during monitoring. The equipment must not get wet.
• You will not be able to leave your home while you are having the Home VT recording.
• The video camera will be constantly recording, so please make any family members or visitors, including children, aware they will be recorded if they are in view of the camera.
• When you consent to this test, you agree to the Clinical Physiologist and Consultant Neurophysiologist being able to view the whole video with sound.
• The home video equipment is a medical device, which is your responsibility from when you leave the Neurophysiology department until you return to hospital. This includes travelling to and from your home and the time it stays in your home. If an event or seizure occurs at home, it is very important you follow your seizure care plan if you have one in place.
• Press the event marker (button) as soon as you can or this can be pressed by another person if they see an event. This tells us exactly when an event has occurred.
• Write in the patient diary as soon after the event as possible. This should include the date, time, how long it lasted and a description of what happened.

When you return to OneWelbeck Neurology for your second visit the recording will be stopped. The discs are removed using warm water. You may then continue immediately with your normal activity. There may be a small amount of paste left in your hair which will wash away with water and shampoo.

The results of the test will not immediately be available for you because the recordings need to be studied by a physician. They will write within a few days to your consultant who will then discuss the findings with you.