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Epilepsy is a common disorder that may be caused by wide ranging etiologies. Historically a significant number of people with epilepsy have idiopathic epilepsy without a definitive etiology. More recently, auto-antibodies have been discovered to be associated with numerous conditions affecting the nervous system, including epilepsy. With this increased understanding of the potential for immune-based etiologies for epilepsy it is important to recognize the associated EEG patterns in such cases. This report presents the EEG findings in epilepsy patients with one or more auto-antibodies.

Seizures can cause airway compromise and aspiration. This is a potential concern during inpatient video-EEG monitoring (vEEG), where seizures are provoked for diagnostic purposes. The frequency of aspiration and efficacy of nursing interventions to protect the airway were evaluated in this retrospective study of 590 partial complex (PC) and generalized tonic clonic (GTC) seizures recording during vEEG. 33 seizures (5.6%) occurred while patients were eating or drinking, 14 with food in the mouth at onset. 4 (0.6%) were followed by post-ictal emesis. Supplemental oxygen was provided in 93% of GTC seizures, and oral suctioning in 85%. Lateral decubitus positioning was used in 53%. These interventions were applied in a minority of PC seizures. There were no choking events, one suspected aspiration without subsequent complication, and no aspiration pneumonia. It is uncertain if interventions such as oral suctioning, lateral decubitus positioning, or oxygen administration reduce the risk of aspiration during vEEG., (2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)