Premium
Stimulus‐Sensitive Seizures in Postanoxic Coma
Author(s) -
Cott Anne C.,
Blatt Ilan,
Brenner Richard P.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1996.tb00040.x
Subject(s) - myoclonus , anesthesia , electroencephalography , epilepsy , stimulus (psychology) , medicine , stimulation , neuroscience , ictal , psychology , convulsion , neurological disorder , central nervous system disease , psychotherapist
Summary: Purpose: To describe four patients with stimulus‐sensitive seizures and myoclonus following severe hypoxic‐ischemic injury. Methods: In 22 months, four adult patients with myoclonus, generalized tonic‐clonic, and clonic seizures following tactile stimulation were identified. EEG and hospital records were reviewed. Results: EEGs showed bursts of generalized spike and polyspike activity following tactile stimulation associated with the clinical seizures. No cerebral activity was present between the epileptiform bursts. At times, prolonged periods of suppression were recorded. All patients failed to respond to antiepileptic drugs and died. Conclusions: Stimulus‐sensitive seizures and myoclonus following anoxia are associated with poor clinical outcome. The presence of seizures and myoclonus in conjunction with epileptiform discharges on EEG confirms that post‐anoxic myoclonus is an epileptic state.