802 Seizure-Associated Central Respiratory Events: What’s Sleep Go To Do With It?

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Seizure-related respiratory dysfunction has been reported in patients with epilepsy(PWE) on scalp EEG. We assessed this in Stereo-EEG(SEEG) recordings in patients with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy. Methods PWE undergoing SEEG wore temperature/pressure-based airflow,RIP belts, SpO2, and EtCO2/TcpCO2. Interpretable recordings required SpO2 and at least one airflow and effort channel. Respiratory events including apneas, hypopneas(3%) and central pauses (5 to<10sec). Respiratory events, respiratory rate(RR), SpO2 nadir, total desaturation time, Peak EtCO2/TcpCO2, and hypercapnia duration were analyzed surrounding seizures. Frequency and duration of central events were compared in sleep-onset and awake seizures. Linear mixed-effects models evaluated relationships between respiratory variables and the frequency and duration of central events associated with seizures and compared respiratory variables between seizures with and without events. Results 44 seizures were recorded in 23 patients. Seizures were focal-onset in 79.5%(n=35), GTC in 20.5%(9). Respiratory events accompanied 61.4%(27) of the seizures with median duration/seizure duration of 0.40(IQR: 0.27, 0.61). Of the 47 respiratory events, 42 were central events, and 66.6%(28) were central apneas. Respiratory events occurred during the seizure in 73.8%, postictal in 26.2%; median SpO2 nadir was 90%(77.0, 93.0), total desaturation duration 104.3(50.3, 195.0)sec, peak TcpCO2 41.3(38.7, 44.8) mmHg, hypercapnia duration 157.6(51.0, 367.9) sec, and ictal-postictal RR change 3.3 ± 4.0bpm. For every 1 sec duration increase in central event duration, there was a significant increase in peak TcpCO2 0.35(95%CI [0.09,0.62],p=0.015) and TcpCO2 change 0.25(95%CI [0.02,0.49],p=0.037). Presence of central events were associated with increased peak TcpCO2(9.82[3.77,15.9], p=0.006). Seizures with central events trended greater changes in RR, SpO2, and EtCO2/TcpCO2, desaturation and hypercapnia time, with negative changes in SpO2 nadir. No significant difference on central event frequency was found between sleep-onset and awake seizures. Conclusion Central events including apneas and pauses are common in focal seizures arising from sleep and wake and are associated with hypercapnia. In addition to the significant association between TcpCO2 and the frequency and duration of central events, there is a positive trend of association of other respiratory dysfunction parameters. These findings suggest that central events may lead to a cascade of respiratory disturbance that may participate in the pathophysiology of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy. Support (if any):