REVIEW

Treatment of neonatal seizures

Janet Rennie¹, Geraldine Boylan²

¹ University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
² Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Rennie
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Obstetric Hospital, Huntley Street, London WC1E 6DH, UK; janetmrennie{at}btinternet.com

Newborn babies with unusual movements thought to represent seizures are usually given a loading dose of phenobarbitone without electroencephalography being performed. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are then continued, with the outcome determined by clinical observation alone. AED treatment, often involving multiple drugs for long periods, is undesirable at a time when the brain is developing rapidly and likely to be especially vulnerable to any toxic effects. Despite considerable advances in the pharmacology of AEDs, continuous EEG monitoring using compact digital systems with simultaneous videorecording allowing off-line analysis, automated seizure detection, neuroimaging, and basic science research on cellular mechanisms of brain injury, treatment of such babies has progressed little. A change in practice is long overdue to allow affected babies to benefit from the advances made.

Abbreviations: AED, antiepileptic drug; EEG, electroencephalography; GABA, -aminobutyric acid

Keywords: electroencephalography (EEG); antiepileptic drugs; cerebral function monitoring; neurology; seizures

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Surtees, R., Wolf, N. (2007). Treatable neonatal epilepsy. Arch. Dis. Child. 92: 659-661 [Full Text]