Characteristics of Neonates with Cardiopulmonary Disease Who Experience Seizures: A Multicenter Study.

2022

63-73

2022 03

1097-6833

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>To compare key seizure and outcome characteristics between neonates with and without cardiopulmonary disease.</p>

<p><strong>STUDY DESIGN: </strong>The Neonatal Seizure Registry is a multicenter, prospectively acquired cohort of neonates with clinical or electroencephalographic (EEG)-confirmed seizures. Cardiopulmonary disease was defined as congenital heart disease, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and exposure to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We assessed continuous EEG monitoring strategy, seizure characteristics, seizure management, and outcomes for neonates with and without cardiopulmonary disease.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>We evaluated 83 neonates with cardiopulmonary disease and 271 neonates without cardiopulmonary disease. Neonates with cardiopulmonary disease were more likely to have EEG-only seizures (40% vs 21%, P&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;.001) and experience their first seizure later than those without cardiopulmonary disease (174 vs 21&nbsp;hours of age, P&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;.001), but they had similar seizure exposure (many-recurrent electrographic seizures 39% vs 43%, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;.27). Phenobarbital was the primary initial antiseizure medication for both groups (90%), and both groups had similarly high rates of incomplete response to initial antiseizure medication administration (66% vs 68%, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;.75). Neonates with cardiopulmonary disease were discharged from the hospital later (hazard ratio 0.34, 95% CI 0.25-0.45, P&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;.001), although rates of in-hospital mortality were similar between the groups (hazard ratio 1.13, 95% CI 0.66-1.94, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;.64).</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Neonates with and without cardiopulmonary disease had a similarly high seizure exposure, but neonates with cardiopulmonary disease were more likely to experience EEG-only seizures and had seizure onset later in the clinical course. Phenobarbital was the most common seizure treatment, but seizures were often refractory to initial antiseizure medication. These data support guidelines recommending continuous EEG in neonates with cardiopulmonary disease and indicate a need for optimized therapeutic strategies.</p>

10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.10.058

J Pediatr

34728234

Treatment of Neonatal Seizures: Comparison of Treatment Pathways From 11 Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

2022

67-74

2022 03

1873-5150

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>Seizures are a common neonatal neurologic emergency. Many centers have developed pathways to optimize management. We evaluated neonatal seizure management pathways at level IV neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the United States to highlight areas of consensus and describe aspects of variability.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>We conducted a descriptive analysis of 11 neonatal seizure management pathways from level IV NICUs that specialize in neonatal neurocritical care including guidelines for electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring, antiseizure medication (ASM) choice, timing, and dose.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Study center NICUs had a median of 70 beds (interquartile range: 52-96). All sites had 24/7 conventional EEG initiation, monitoring, and review capability. Management pathways uniformly included prompt EEG confirmation of seizures. Most pathways included a provision for intravenous benzodiazepine administration if either EEG or loading of ASM was delayed. Phenobarbital 20 mg/kg IV was the first-line ASM in all pathways. Pathways included either fosphenytoin or levetiracetam as the second-line ASM with variable dosing. Third-line ASMs were most commonly fosphenytoin or levetiracetam, with alternatives including topiramate or lacosamide. All pathways provided escalation to continuous midazolam infusion with variable dosing for seizures refractory to initial medication trials. Three pathways also included lidocaine infusion. Nine pathways discussed ASM discontinuation after resolution of acute symptomatic seizures with variable timing.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Despite a paucity of data from controlled trials regarding optimal neonatal seizure management, there are areas of broad agreement among institutional pathways. Areas of substantial heterogeneity that require further research include optimal second-line ASM, dosage, and timing of ASM discontinuation.</p>

10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2021.10.004

Pediatr Neurol

34750046