Seizures after intracranial surgery in pediatric patients
A Visudthibhan1, P Visudhiphan, S Chiemchanya
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Insights
Postoperative seizures occurred in 11.6% of pediatric patients after intracranial surgery. Most seizures were partial and began within 24 hours, necessitating prompt investigation and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Neurology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Intracranial operations in children can lead to postoperative seizures.
- Understanding the incidence and characteristics of these seizures is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence and patterns of seizures following intracranial surgery in pediatric patients.
- To identify risk factors and contributing elements to post-neurosurgical seizures in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 155 pediatric patients (<15 years) undergoing intracranial operations over a 5-year period.
- Analysis of seizure occurrence, timing, seizure type, and potential causative factors within one year post-operation.
Main Results:
- 18 out of 155 patients (11.6%) experienced seizures within one year post-operation.
- Seizure onset occurred within 24 hours in 55.6% of affected patients; 72% were partial seizures.
- Sodium derangement was noted in two immediate postoperative seizures; supratentorial lesions were associated with early-onset seizures.
Conclusions:
- Prompt investigation for structural lesions and electrolyte disturbances is vital for managing post-neurosurgical seizures in children.
- Appropriate antiepileptic drug administration is important, but routine preoperative prophylaxis requires further study.
Abstract:
We retrospectively reviewed the occurrence of seizure after performing intracranial operations in children aged less than 15 years. During a 5-year period, there were 18 patients out of a total of 155 who developed one or more seizures within 1 year after operation. The majority of patients (55.6%) had the onset of seizures within 24 hours. Seventy-two per cent of the patients had partial seizures. Two patients who developed immediate postoperative seizures had sodium derangement. Eight of 10 patients who had early onset seizures had had an operation for supratentorial lesions. Among the 6 patients who developed seizures after infratentorial tumor removal, the cause of seizure was not known in 4 patients. We emphasize that prompt investigations to exclude any structural lesions and other possible causes of seizure, especially electrolyte disturbance along with appropriate antiepileptic drug administration, are important in patients who develop seizures after the operation. The recommendation for routine administration of antiepileptic drug prior to the operation has yet to be concluded.
More Related Videos
09:57Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Published on: September 20, 2024
06:04Frontal Disconnection for Treating Mild Malformation of Cortical Development with Oligodendroglial Hyperplasia in Epilepsy (MOGHE) in the Frontal Lobe
Published on: August 16, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:24Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
01:13Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
01:14Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction
01:20Seizures l: Introduction
01:19Seizures ll: Types
01:22Epilepsy ll: Types