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Published on: August 15, 2017
Use of sedation-awakening electroencephalography in dogs with epilepsy
Marcin Wrzosek1,2, Aleksandra Banasik1,2, Adriana Czerwik3
1Department of Internal Diseases with a Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
Background:
Electroencephalography (EEG) recording protocols have been standardized for humans. Although the utilization of techniques in veterinary medicine is increasing, a standard protocol has not yet been established.
Hypothesis:
Assessment of a sedation-awakening EEG protocol in dogs.
Animals:
Electroencephalography examination was performed in a research colony of 6 nonepileptic dogs (control [C]) and 12 dogs with epilepsy admitted to the clinic because of the epileptic seizures.
Methods:
It was a prospective study with retrospective control. Dogs with epilepsy were divided into 2 equal groups, wherein EEG acquisition was performed using a "sedation" protocol (IE-S, n = 6) and a "sedation-awakening" protocol (IE-SA, n = 6). All animals were sedated using medetomidine. In IE-SA group, sedation was reversed 5 minutes after commencing the EEG recording by injecting atipamezole IM. Type of background activity (BGA) and presence of EEG-defined epileptiform discharges (EDs) were evaluated blindly. Statistical significance was set at P > 0.05.
Results:
Epileptiform discharges were found in 1 of 6 of the dogs in group C, 4 of 6 of the dogs in IE-S group, and 5 of 6 of the dogs in IE-SA group. A significantly greater number of EDs (spikes, P = .0109; polyspikes, P = .0109; sharp waves, P = .01) were detected in Phase 2 in animals subjected to the "sedation-awakening" protocol, whereas there was no statistically significant greater number of discharges in sedated animals.
Conclusions And Clinical Importance:
A "sedation-awakening" EEG protocol could be of value for ambulatory use if repeated EEG recordings and monitoring of epilepsy in dogs is needed.
