Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Use of a Wireless Video-EEG System to Monitor Epileptiform Discharges Following Lateral Fluid-Percussion Induced Traumatic Brain Injury
09:16

Use of a Wireless Video-EEG System to Monitor Epileptiform Discharges Following Lateral Fluid-Percussion Induced Traumatic Brain Injury

Published on: June 21, 2019

25.6K

Seizure Prophylaxis in Young Patients Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Ahmed Abdel-Aziz Bahey1, Talat Chughtai2, Ayman El-Menyar3,4

  • 1Department of Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy, Trauma Surgery Section, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar.

Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock
|April 29, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Phenytoin did not prevent early-onset seizures (EOS) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. This study suggests current use of phenytoin for seizure prophylaxis after TBI is ineffective and warrants further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Phenytoin is a common anti-seizure medication.
  • Its effectiveness and safety in preventing early-onset seizures (EOS) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) are debated.
  • This study investigates phenytoin's utility in TBI patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the use of phenytoin as seizure prophylaxis following TBI.
  • To determine if phenytoin administration is effective in preventing EOS after TBI.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective observational study of adult TBI patients.
  • EOS defined as witnessed seizure within one week post-injury.
  • Comparison of phenytoin versus no-phenytoin use, EOS versus no-EOS, and TBI severity groups.

Main Results:

  • Phenytoin use was associated with higher rates of EOS, higher Marshall Score, lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and increased mortality.
  • Toxic serum phenytoin levels and low serum albumin were independent predictors of EOS.
  • Phenytoin was administered more frequently in patients with severe TBI.

Conclusions:

  • Prophylactic phenytoin use was ineffective in preventing EOS post-TBI.
  • Further large-scale, matched studies and defined hospital protocols are necessary for optimal phenytoin use after TBI.
Abstract

Keywords:
Brain injuryearly onsetepilepsyphenytoinseizuretrauma

More Related Videos

Inducing Post-Traumatic Epilepsy in a Mouse Model of Repetitive Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury07:07

Inducing Post-Traumatic Epilepsy in a Mouse Model of Repetitive Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury

Published on: February 10, 2020

10.5K
Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice07:01

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

9.0K

Related Concept Videos

Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
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:
339
Arteries of the Lower Limbs01:24

Arteries of the Lower Limbs

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
188
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
388
Electroconvulsive Therapy01:30

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early...
37