S M Laney | PubMed Health

PubMed1991

Atypical electroencephalographic pattern in a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) has become rare since the widespread use of the measles vaccine. In this patient with a 5 month history of seizures and progressive dementia due to SSPE, the atypical electroencephalographic pattern was characterized by generalized spike-and-wave discharges, maximal on the right, associated with clinical seizures. After diazepam (intravenously), more typical periodic complexes appeared.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Rectal anticonvulsants in pediatric practice.

Children with seizure disorders frequently are treated with anticonvulsant medications such as clonazepam, valproic acid, carbamazepine, and ethosuximide, which cannot be given parenterally. When the child is unable to take these anticonvulsants orally, he or she may be given parenteral doses of phenobarbital or phenytoin. In many cases, these two medications have failed previously to control seizures, leading to the use of the more recently developed drugs. The use of rectal preparations of some anticonvulsant medications is highly useful and effective when the child is unable to take oral medications because of repeated vomiting, gastrointestinal surgery, and status epilepticus associated with lack of venous access. Rectal use of anticonvulsants has a role in the management of hospitalized seizure patients and can be learned by parents needing to treat their children's seizures at home while awaiting other medical care.

Administration, Rectal↗