Abstracts

RATIONALE: To examine the temporal relationship and frequency of seizures occurrence in patients admitted to the EMU for presurgical evaluation and had seizures prior to admission. There are several factors induce seizures like sleep deprivation, photic stimulation, hyperventilation, and reduction of AEDs.
METHODS: Patients admitted to EMU between 1999-2000, who had at least one partial seizure, on one medication with known level (PHT, CBZ, VPA, PB), all had AED level measured to exclude noncompliance, documentation of seizures, and gradual reduction of AED. Forty-four patients were included in the study. The subject[ssquote]s last seizure prior to admission was also recorded and divided into two groups. Patients with seizures within 7 days of admission compared to those with seizures more than 7 days up to a month. The day seizures occurred in EMU are divided into group A (1-2 days), group B (3-4 days), group C (more than 4 days).
RESULTS: Twenty-two patients had their last pre-admission seizure within a week prior to admission had a total of 99 seizures with an average frequency of 4.5 seizures per patient. The other group (seizures 7-30 days) had total of 95 seizures and an average frequency of 4.2. There is no significant difference in the average frequency of seizures between the groups (P=0.85).
A total of 194 seizures experienced by all of the patients. In patients with seizures within 7 days, 55% of the seizures occurred within the first 2 days in the EMU (group A) compared to 24% of those with seizures [gt]7 days. Overall there is statistically significant association between day seizures occurred at EMU and last preadmission seizure (P=0.027).
CONCLUSIONS: The last pre-admission seizure has no effect on the seizure frequency in epilepsy patients in the EMU. However, it has a significant effect on the day that seizure occur. Those with recent history of seizures ([lt] 7days) tend to have their seizure in the first few days in the EMU.