Micheal P. Macken

Anticonvulsant Use and Outcomes After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose— There are few data on the effectiveness and side effects of antiepileptic drug therapy after intracerebral hemorrhage. We tested the hypothesis that antiepileptic drug use is associated with more complications and worse outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods— We prospectively enrolled 98 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and recorded antiepileptic drug use as either prophylactic or therapeutic along with clinical characteristics. Antiepileptic drug administration and free phenytoin serum levels were retrieved from the electronic medical records. Patients with depressed mental status underwent continuous electroencephalographic monitoring. Outcomes were measured with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale at 14 days or discharge and the modified Rankin Scale at 28 days and 3 months. We constructed logistic regression models for poor outcome at 3 months with a forward conditional model. Results— Seven (7%) patients had a clinical seizure, 5 on the day of intracerebral hemorrhage. Phenytoin was associated with more fever (P=0.03), worse National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at 14 days (23 [9 to 42] versus 11 [4 to 23], P=0.003), and worse modified Rankin Scale at 14 days, 28 days, and 3 months. In a forward conditional logistic regression model, phenytoin prophylaxis was associated with an increased risk of poor outcome (OR, 9.8; 1.4 to 68.6; P=0.02), entering after admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and age. Excluding patients with a seizure did not change the results. Levetiracetam was not associated with demographics, seizures, complications, or outcomes. Conclusions— Phenytoin was associated with more fever and worse outcomes after intracerebral hemorrhage.

Continuous EEG monitoring: a survey of neurophysiologists and neurointensivists.

Continuous EEG monitoring (cEEG) of critically ill adults is being used with increasing frequency, and practice guidelines on indications for cEEG monitoring have recently been published. However, data describing the current practice of cEEG in critically ill adults is limited. We aimed to describe the current practice of cEEG monitoring in adults in the United States.

Assessment of a quasi-piezoelectric mattress monitor as a detection system for generalized convulsions

The risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is highest with nocturnal, unattended generalized convulsions, and basic resuscitation may be able to prevent SUDEP. This study investigates an under-mattress device (ElectroMechanical Film - Emfit®) which is triggered by rhythmic motor activity of a specifiable duration, frequency, and intensity using a quasi-piezoelectric material sensitive to changes in mattress pressure. The device was tested during inpatient video-EEG monitoring. Eighteen GTCSs were recorded, 10 out of wakefulness and 8 out of sleep. Sixteen of the 18 seizures (89%) resulted in Emfit® activation with both false negative alarms occurring during wakefulness. On average, the device was activated within 9 s of onset of bilateral clonic motor movements (range: -37 to +39 s) and occurred, on average, 45 s before seizure end (range: 19 to 76 s). Only 21 false alarms were encountered, all occurring during wakefulness (PPV: 43%). The data suggest that the Emfit® detection device has a high predictive value for generalized convulsions, offers caregivers a reliable and early warning to assist the patient during convulsions, and may be a novel way to prevent SUDEP.

Automatic Vagus Nerve Stimulation Triggered by Ictal Tachycardia: Clinical Outcomes and Device Performance - The U.S. E-37 Trial

The Automatic Stimulation Mode (AutoStim) feature of the Model 106 Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy System stimulates the left vagus nerve on detecting tachycardia. This study evaluates performance, safety of the AutoStim feature during a 3‐5‐day Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) stay and long‐ term clinical outcomes of the device stimulating in all modes.

Topiramate, Pseudotumor Cerebri, Weight-Loss and Glaucoma: An Ophthalmologic Perspective

Approved for the treatment of epilepsy and migraine prophylaxis, topiramate also acts as a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor implying a potential role in the treatment of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC). Topiramate has a propensity to cause anorexia with consequent weight loss, which alone may be curative in PTC. Prescribers must be aware of several reported cases of acute secondary angle-closure glaucoma reported in patients treated with topiramate.

Facial nerve electromyographic monitoring to predict movement in patients titrated to a standard anesthetic depth

BACKGROUND: Facial nerve (FN) monitoring has been accepted as a standard of care in craniofacial, middle ear, and skull-based surgeries as a means of reducing iatrogenic injury, localizing the FN, and predicting postoperative neurologic function. Past studies have also shown that FN electromyographic monitoring (FNEMG) may have some clinical utility as a monitor of anesthetic depth and predicting patient movement. In this study, we evaluated Bispectral Index (BIS) and FNEMG using two different anesthetic techniques to determine whether these monitors can be used to predict movement in patients undergoing skull-based surgical procedures. METHODS: Using a single-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial, the relationship between FNEMG monitoring and BIS to predict movement during specific craniofacial and skull-based surgeries performed under general anesthesia was evaluated. In addition, a total IV anesthetic (TIVA) technique, using propofol and remifentanil, was compared with an inhaled anesthetic technique, using desflurane (DES), to determine which regimen provides the best conditions of adequate anesthesia and prevents movement in nonparalyzed patients undergoing a surgical procedure requiring FNEMG monitoring. RESULTS: The TIVA technique produced better hemodynamic conditions compared with DES. No significant differences were noted in BIS values between the two groups. However, FNEMG activity was lower in the TIVA group during emergence from the effects of anesthesia. More patients moved during anesthesia with DES compared with TIVA, and of the 10 patients who moved, eight had significant FNEMG activity. The positive predictive value of the FNEMG for movement was found to be 38%, and the negative predictive value was 95%. There was no significant change from baseline values in hemodynamics or BIS value for patients who experienced movement compared with those who did not move with FNEMG activity. CONCLUSION: This study shows that FNEMG may be an effective monitor for predicting patient movement when undergoing craniofacial and skull-based surgeries. BIS monitoring, however, was not an adequate monitor to predict movement in this patient population. The DES group had more hemodynamic variability and FNEMG activity, whereas TIVA proved to be a more effective anesthetic in preventing patient movement when clinically titrated to produce stable operation conditions. FNEMG was a useful clinical tool to help predict and prevent movement in these patients.

SUNCT Syndrome: Short-Lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache with Conjunctival Injection and Tearing

The SUNCT syndrome refers to Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform headache with Conjunctival injection and Tearing. It is characterized by brief attacks of severe unilateral pain in the orbitotemporal region, associated with ipsilateral cranial autonomic disturbances. All SUNCT patients experience ipsilateral conjunctival injection and lacrimation. Mean age of onset is 50 years with a male predominance. The syndrome is often misdiagnosed as trigeminal neuralgia or cluster headache. Primary and secondary forms exist, the secondary form is most commonly associated with lesions of the posterior fossa or pituitary adenoma. The SUNCT syndrome is refractory to most commonly employed therapies. Lamotrigine has recently been reported as an effective first line therapy.

Syringomyelia presenting as paroxysmal arm posturing resembling seizures

A 9-year-old female presented with daily episodes of medically refractory paroxysmal bilateral arm posturing, which had long been thought to be epileptic seizures. She also had other types of episodes, including daily staring spells and infrequent generalized tonic-clonic convulsions. Neurologic examination was normal except for delayed cognitive development. The results of previous electroencephalograms (EEG) were normal, and magnetic resonance imaging of the head revealed a Chiari I malformation. Video EEG monitoring revealed no EEG changes during the attacks, and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed a large cervical syrinx associated with the Chiari malformation. The episodes of paroxysmal bilateral dystonic arm posturing resolved after surgical intervention for the syrinx. This report illustrates that cervical cord disease is an unusual although potentially treatable condition to be considered in the differential diagnosis of paroxysmal episodes with dystonic movements of the arms, even in the absence of other physical findings of myelopathy.

Ictal sensory periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges

We describe the case of a 74-year-old man with left parietal arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and cerebral white matter radiation necrosis who developed persistent subjective right-sided groin pulsations. The EEG revealed left parietal periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) time-locked to these sensations, confirming that the patients symptoms represented sensory seizures with ictal PLEDs as the electrographic correlate. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of ictal PLEDs manifesting as sensory seizures.

Clinical classification of post anoxic myoclonic status

INTRODUCTION Despite decades of research into the prognostic significance of post anoxic myoclonic status (MS), no consistent definition has been used to describe its clinical appearance. We set out to characterize the clinical features of MS and hypothesized that there are distinct clinical subtypes that may have prognostic implications. METHODS Video EEG reports from 2008 to 2016 were searched to identify adult patients with post anoxic MS defined as persistent myoclonus for >30min beginning within 3days of cardiac arrest in a comatose patient. Forty-three patients met inclusion and exclusion criteria. To generate definitions of the clinical features of MS, we reviewed videos of 23 cases and characterized 3 distinct clinical semiologies. An additional 20 cases were independently reviewed and categorized by 3 raters to evaluate inter-rater agreement (IRA). All 43 patients were assigned to a group based on consensus review for the first 23 patients and majority agreement for IRA patients. We also examined the relationship between semiology and outcome. RESULTS Three distinct clinical semiologies of MS were identified: Type 1: distal, asynchronous, variable; type 2: axial or axial and distal, asynchronous, variable; and type 3: axial, synchronous, stereotyped. For IRA, Gwets kappa was 0.64 indicating substantial agreement. Two of 3 type 1 patients (66.6%) and 7.4% of type 2 followed commands whereas none of type 3 followed commands (p=0.03). CONCLUSION We defined and validated a classification system of post anoxic MS based on clinical semiology. This classification may be a useful bedside prognostication tool.