Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society
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J Clin Neurophysiol · Aug 2013
Comparative StudyDensity spectral array for seizure identification in critically ill children.
We evaluated the validity and interrater reliability of encephalographer interpretation of color density spectral array EEG for seizure identification was evaluated in critically ill children and explored predictors of accurate seizure identification. ⋯ Color density spectral array may be a useful screening tool for seizure identification by encephalographers, but it does not identify all seizures and false positives occur.
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J Clin Neurophysiol · Aug 2013
Case ReportsStatus epilepticus amauroticus and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in children.
Transient cortical visual impairment is a common aura of occipital lobe seizures. However, status amauroticus for hours has rarely been described as a manifestation of occipital lobe status epilepticus. ⋯ Reversible status amauroticus because of occipital lobe status epilepticus may be the presenting symptom of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and EEG recording should be performed.
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J Clin Neurophysiol · Aug 2013
Comparative StudyPreservation of motor evoked potentials under anesthesia in children with spinal muscular atrophy type II undergoing spinal deformity surgery.
Spinal muscular atrophy is a progressive condition in which movement is gradually lost as a result of the loss of spinal motor neurons. Individuals with this condition may require surgical correction of a secondary scoliosis. Motor evoked potentials were recorded using transcranial electrical stimulation in four such individuals undergoing surgery. ⋯ Motor evoked potentials were recordable in both upper and lower limb muscles, with similar stimulation parameters to control subjects undergoing surgery for idiopathic scoliosis. The amplitudes of the motor evoked potentials were similar to those in control subjects, although the latencies were shorter reflective of the smaller stature of the spinal muscular atrophy patients. The relative preservation of the motor evoked potentials despite the patients' poor voluntary motor control suggests that there is a selective preservation of the motor neurons mediating the motor evoked potential in spinal muscular atrophy and a maintenance of the conduction velocities of the corticospinal tract.
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J Clin Neurophysiol · Aug 2013
Spectrum of nonconvulsive status epilepticus in patients with cancer.
Determine incidence, clinical presentation, electrographic correlates, and outcome of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) in cancer patients on whom an EEG was performed. ⋯ In our cohort, awake NCSE was more common than comatose NCSE. Treatment was successful in patients with heterogeneous central nervous system disease. EEG evaluation should be considered in patients with cancer because NCSE is treatable despite a high prevalence of structural brain disease. Nonconvulsive status epilepticus control did not always require intubation and burst suppression, but frequently required three or more antiepileptic drugs.