Nonconvulsive seizures are common in critically ill children
Citation Manager Formats
Make Comment
See Comments
This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Background: Retrospective studies have reported the occurrence of nonconvulsive seizures in critically ill children. We aimed to prospectively determine the incidence and risk factors of nonconvulsive seizures in critically ill children using predetermined EEG monitoring indications and EEG interpretation terminology.
Methods: Critically ill children (non-neonates) with acute encephalopathy underwent continuous EEG monitoring if they met institutional clinical practice criteria. Study enrollment and data collection were prospective. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify risk factors for seizure occurrence.
Results: One hundred children were evaluated. Electrographic seizures occurred in 46 and electrographic status epilepticus occurred in 19. Seizures were exclusively nonconvulsive in 32. The only clinical risk factor for seizure occurrence was younger age (p = 0.03). Of patients with seizures, only 52% had seizures detected in the first hour of monitoring, while 87% were detected within 24 hours.
Conclusions: Seizures were common in critically ill children with acute encephalopathy. Most were nonconvulsive. Clinical features had little predictive value for seizure occurrence. Further study is needed to confirm these data in independent high-risk populations, to clarify which children are at highest risk for seizures so limited monitoring resources can be allocated optimally, and to determine whether seizure detection and management improves outcome.
Footnotes
-
Study funding: Supported by the NINDS Neurological Sciences Academic Development Award (NSADA) (K12 NS049453 to N.S.A.).
-
- cEEG
- continuous EEG monitoring
- CI
- confidence interval
- NCS
- nonconvulsive seizures
- NCSE
- nonconvulsive status epilepticus
- OR
- odds ratio
- PICU
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
-
Editorial, page 1036
- Received March 26, 2010.
- Accepted September 28, 2010.
- Copyright © 2011 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
For assistance, please contact:
AAN Members (800) 879-1960 or (612) 928-6000 (International)
Non-AAN Member subscribers (800) 638-3030 or (301) 223-2300 option 3, select 1 (international)
Sign Up
Information on how to subscribe to Neurology and Neurology: Clinical Practice can be found here
Purchase
Individual access to articles is available through the Add to Cart option on the article page. Access for 1 day (from the computer you are currently using) is US$ 39.00. Pay-per-view content is for the use of the payee only, and content may not be further distributed by print or electronic means. The payee may view, download, and/or print the article for his/her personal, scholarly, research, and educational use. Distributing copies (electronic or otherwise) of the article is not allowed.
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
More Online
Differences in Age-related Retinal and Cortical Atrophy Rates in Multiple Sclerosis
Prof. Massimo Filippi and Dr. Paolo Preziosa
► Watch
Topics Discussed
Alert Me
Recommended articles
-
Articles
Electroencephalographic monitoring during hypothermia after pediatric cardiac arrestN. S. Abend, A. Topjian, R. Ichord et al.Neurology, June 01, 2009 -
Articles
Detection of electrographic seizures with continuous EEG monitoring in critically ill patientsJ. Claassen, S. A. Mayer, R. G. Kowalski et al.Neurology, May 24, 2004 -
Article
Electrographic status epilepticus and long-term outcome in critically ill childrenKatherine L. Wagenman, Taylor P. Blake, Sarah M. Sanchez et al.Neurology, January 02, 2014 -
Article
An assessment of nonconvulsive seizures in the intensive care unit using continuous EEG monitoringAn investigation of variables associated with mortalityBryan G. Young, Kenneth G. Jordan, Gordon S. Doig et al.Neurology, July 01, 1996