Frequency of periictal apnea and cardiac arrhythmias in epileptic seizures

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of ICA and cardiac arrhythmias in epileptic patients and to study the risk factors and predictors of their occurrence. This study consecutively recruited 60 participants diagnosed with Epilepsy from Epilepsy outpatient clinics at Neurology Department of Ain Shams University Hospitals. All participants underwent prolonged surface video-EEG study using the 10-20 international electrode system with concomitant polysomnography including ECG, heart rate monitoring and SpO2 using pulse oximetry. Also inductance plethysmography was used to record chest and abdominal excursions. MRI brain epilepsy protocol was done for all participants. The sample consisted of 36males and 24 females with a mean age of 24 years and age range of 10-40 years. The mean age of epilepsy onset was 13.953 years. The mean duration of illness was 10.235 years. The mean frequency of seizures per month was 37 seizures per month. Past history of status epilepticus occurrence was evident in 17 patients. Drug resistance was evident in 30patients. As regard antiepileptic drugs; 13 patients were on single medication and 47 patients were on multiple medication. Family history of epilepsy was evident in 10 patients.