Video -EEG analysis in the duration of generalized tonic - clonic seizures

Abstract

Objective To measure the duration of the generalized tonic - clonic seizures ( GTCS),and to evaluate the relationship of durations to sleep/wakefulness and different seizures leading to GTCS.Method 153 patients ( consecutive inpatients in 2009) were under going video - EEG ( V - EEG) for epilepsy surgery and had GTCS in the monitoring were studied.GTCS was divided into 7 phases,the durations of all the phases were measured.The difference between different seizures and sleep/wakefulness on the duration was discussed.Results A total of 275 GTCS in 153 patients were analyzed.The mean GTCS duration was (72.0 ± 34.5 ) s,the duration is shorter in sleep than wakefulness ( P ＜ 0.05 ),there were no difference of the duration between simple partial seizure leading to GTCS,complex partial seizure leading to GTCS and GTCS onset.Conclusions Most GTCS last no more than 2 minutes,sleep and wakefulness may affect the duration.These findings may contribute to mechanism of seizure stop and suggest the better time to give intravenous antiepileptic drug treatment. Key words: Epilepsy, tonic - clonic ; Duration ; Video - EEG; Sleep; Arousal