title: [Prevention of late post-traumatic epilepsy by phenytoin in severe brain injuries. 2 years' follow-up].
abstract: The high incidence rate and the invalidating nature of post-traumatic epilepsy after severe brain injury have encouraged the authors to review the prophylactic treatment of this type of epilepsy. Thirty-four out of 86 randomised patients with brain injuries admitted into a neurotraumatology intensive care unit were treated prophylactically, immediately after the injury, with an intravenous hydantoin injection in a dose sufficient to provide stable and effective blood levels. This was followed by dose-adjusted oral administration maintained for a minimum period of 3 months. After a 2 years' follow-up, there was a significant difference between treated and untreated patients, since only 6 per cent of the patients treated suffered from post-traumatic epilepsy, as against 42 percent in the untreated group.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Explorations fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux, CHRU Hôtel-Dieu, Clermont-Ferrand.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pechadre
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lauxerois
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colnet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Commun
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dimicoli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonnard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gibert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chabannes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D004834:Epilepsy, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010672:Phenytoin
vernacular_title: Prévention de l'épilepsie post-traumatique tardive par phénytoïne dans les traumatismes crâniens graves. Suivi durant 2 ans.