Status Epilepticus Associated With Subtentorial Posterior Fossa Lesions

• Published in: Archives of neurology (Chicago) Vol. 66; no. 12; pp. 1500 - 1504
• Main Authors: Grill, Marie F, Treiman, David M, Maganti, Rama K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Medical Association 01.12.2009
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Brain; Convulsions & seizures; Cranial Fossa, Posterior - pathology; Databases, Factual; Electroencephalography - methods; Female; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Humans; Intensive care; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Patients; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Status Epilepticus - diagnosis; Status Epilepticus - physiopathology; Young Adult; Nervous system diseases; Subintrant crisis; Epilepsy; Central nervous system disease; Posterior fossa; Status epilepticus; Cerebral disorder
• ISSN: 0003-9942; 2168-6149; 1538-3687; 2168-6157
• DOI: 10.1001/archneurol.2009.275

BACKGROUND Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (SE) is a frequent complication in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. While seizures have been reported in association with subtentorial posterior fossa lesions, the frequency of occurrence of SE among these patients is not known. OBJECTIVES To examine prevalence, clinical features, potential risk factors, and outcome of SE among patients presenting with subtentorial posterior fossa lesions. DESIGN Retrospective review of our hospital database was conducted to identify patients with posterior fossa lesions complicated by SE over 1 year between April 1, 2007, and May 1, 2008. SETTING Tertiary care setting. PATIENTS Patients with subtentorial posterior fossa lesions admitted to the hospital for neurological or neurosurgical care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence of SE, potential risk factors, and eventual neurological outcome. RESULTS Over 1 year, 13 of 501 patients (2.6%) admitted to the hospital with posterior fossa lesions had SE. Some patients had risk factors for SE such as sepsis, use of particular drugs, or intracranial bleeding, while others had no other clear identifiable cause. CONCLUSIONS Status epilepticus can be a potential complication in patients with posterior fossa cranial lesions and can be seen in up to 2.6% of such patients. Most have unfavorable outcome.Arch Neurol. 2009;66(12):1500-1504-->