Seizures during the immediate postoperative period

Twenty-three of 538 patients undergoing elective craniotomy had a seizure within 24 hours after operation. The lesion had been located extra-axially in 15 patients and intra-axially in 8 patients. Except for 1 patient who had a parietal craniotomy for an arteriovenous malformation, all patients had a frontal or temporal exposure. Only 5 patients had a previous history of seizures. Adequate levels of anticonvulsant medication were not present in 19 of the 23 patients before operation. No major postoperative metabolic abnormalities were noted in any of the 23 patients. Thirteen of the 23 patients underwent computed tomography to evaluate the etiology of their seizures; none had a significant intracerebral or extracerebral hematoma. This review suggests that an early postoperative seizure is unlikely to be due to a postoperative hematoma or to metabolic abnormality. The most common association in this series was with inadequate anticonvulsant prophylaxis. An approach to postoperative seizure prophylaxis and management is presented.