EEG monitoring of therapy for neonatal seizures.

Abstract

Eleven neonates with seizures had continuous EEGs recorded before and up to several hours after administration of anticonvulsant therapy. Six of seven babies given phenobarbitone responded clinically, but in four of these the EEG showed that seizure discharges either persisted or recurred within two hours. Chloral hydrate had no immediate effect in one case and only a doubtful influence on EEG seizure activity in another. Three babies were given benzodiazepines: after an apparently rapidly effective bolus dose of diazepam, recurrence of seizure discharges was almost immediate. Infusions of diazepam or clonazepam eventually were associated with persistent control of clinical and EEG seizures. In the treatment of neonatal seizures, conventional anticonvulsants are rarely completely effective: EEG monitoring is essential for optimal therapeutic intervention.

• Authors: V F Hakeem, S J Wallace
• Journal: Developmental medicine and child neurology (Dev Med Child Neurol) Vol. 32 Issue 10 Pg. 858-64 (Oct 1990) ISSN: 0012-1622 [Print] England
• PMID: 2257984 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Chloral Hydrate
• Clonazepam
• Diazepam
• Phenobarbital

Topics

• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Chloral Hydrate (therapeutic use)
• Clonazepam (therapeutic use)
• Diazepam (therapeutic use)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Electroencephalography (drug effects)
• Evoked Potentials (drug effects)
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Premature, Diseases (drug therapy)
• Phenobarbital (therapeutic use)
• Recurrence
• Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
• Spasms, Infantile (drug therapy)