[Neonatal seizures in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit]

Seizures are frequent in the neonatal period. They can be idiopathic, be caused by organic brain anomalies or by metabolic disturbances.

Evaluation of the etiologic diagnosis and clinical evolution of the newborns with neonatal seizures admitted at one tertiary neonatal intensive care unit.

Retrospective review of the clinical files of the newborns with neonatal seizures, during a period of eight years.

Neonatal seizures occurred in 91 cases. Seventy nine (86.8%) received anticonvulsant therapy during clinical seizure. Image and/or electrophysiological studies were performed in the majority of newborns (86.8%). Etiology was identified in 51.6% of the 91 cases studied, being the more frequent situations: central nervous system bleeding (11 cases), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (10 cases) and electrolytes disturbances (7 cases). Mortality rate was 16.5%. The newborns followed in our hospital had good neurodevelopment, in 70.2% of cases but in 10.6% was detected important neurodevelopment impairment, including cerebral palsy.

Anomalies in the cranial ultrasound and in the electroencephalography were correlated with clinical evolution. They still are first line exams in the initial approach to this pathology.