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Reflex Seizures Induced by Defecation, with an Ictal EEG Focus in the Left Frontotemporal Region
Author(s) -
Harbord Michael G.,
Mitchell Carmel
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2002.03202.x
Subject(s) - ictal , defecation , anesthesia , psychology , reflex epilepsy , electroencephalography , epilepsy , medicine , drooling , reflex , audiology , neuroscience , surgery
Summary: We report a 9‐year‐old boy with seizures induced by defecation. The episodes occurred 1–2 min after passing a bowel action and consisted of initial staring, gagging, and drooling followed by a secondarily generalized tonic–clonic seizure. The interictal EEGs were normal, but an ictal EEG with concurrent video monitoring demonstrated a polyspike wave discharge in the left frontotemporal region. There was no evidence of syncope, and the seizures did not occur while straining to empty his bowels or immediately on standing afterward. His magnetic resonance imaging scan was normal. This is the first reported case in which ictal EEG monitoring has demonstrated reflex seizures induced by defecation.