The Use of Antiepileptic Drug for Postcranioplasty Seizure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Cranioplasty, a common procedure following craniectomy, aims to repair cranial defects resulting from various causes, including trauma and raised intracranial pressure. Despite its routine application, cranioplasty is associated with complications, notably seizures. The incidence of postcranioplasty seizures (PCS) and the role of antiepileptic drug (AED) prophylaxis remain underexplored. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of AED prophylaxis on both early and late PCS. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed, Europe PMC, ClinicalTrials.gov, and EMBASE, yielding 1292 articles. Eligibility criteria included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in English reporting PCS incidence with or without AED prophylaxis. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane’s RoB 2 tool. Statistical analysis employed RevMan 5.4 software. Results: Of the initially identified articles, two RCTs met the inclusion criteria, involving a total of 497 cases. AED prophylaxis significantly reduced the risk of early PCS (risk ratio [RR]: 0.15, confidence interval [CI]: 0.06–0.37, P < 0.0001), with no heterogeneity (I 2 = 0%, P = 0.78). However, there was no significant difference in late PCS incidence between the intervention and control groups (RR: 0.32, CI: 0.06–1.56, P = 0.16). No significant differences in abnormal liver function or blood test results were observed between groups. Conclusion: AED prophylaxis significantly reduces the risk of early PCS following cranioplasty, but its effectiveness in preventing late PCS remains uncertain. Further studies are warranted to determine optimal AED regimens and address the limitations of the current meta-analysis.