Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
The ictal EEG patterns are the electrical triggers of 'epileptic seizures' and they are different from the familiar 'inter-ictal' discharges that are encountered during the normal 'non-seizing' states of epileptic patients. This study concentrates on the 'seizing discharges' among in-patients with documented seizures through a 'simultaneous EEG-Video' monitoring (telemetry) facility
OBJECTIVE:
To identify the common ictal patterns in patients with documented epileptic seizures
METHODS:
Two hundred consecutive telemetries at King's College Hospital in London over the period of nine months starting from Jan 2007 back to May 2006 were reviewed and the common ictal patterns were evaluated by using 'simultaneous EEG-Video' monitoring (telemetry) facility
RESULTS:
Three main ictal patterns were observed in the 81 patients with documented epileptic seizures. 'Rhythmic theta ictal pattern' was observed in 46.9% of patients, all showed focal seizures whereas 26.1% of patients showed the 'decremental ictal pattern' (fast activity). Focal seizures were presented in 81.8% and 18.2% with generalized ones. 'Polyspike-wave' activity was observed in 9.8% of patients and all of them have genrralized seizures
CONCLUSION:
At least three commonly encountered ictal patterns were identified. They are distinct, may be readily recognizable and showed their prevalence in King's telemetry.