Prolonged apnoea with severe arterial hypoxaemia resulting from complex partial seizures.
Multi-channel tape-recordings of the EEG, breathing movements, arterial pulsed oxygen saturation and ECG were performed on a four-year-old child with a history of cyanotic episodes. These had started at nine months of age, resulted in cardiopulmonary resuscitation on unnumerable occasions, and were refractory to anti-epileptic medication. During each episode seizure activity appeared first, followed within a few seconds by sinus tachycardia, prolonged absence of inspiratory efforts and severe arterial hypoxaemia. As the seizure activity ended, breathing movements restarted and there was a gradual improvement in oxygenation.
Department of Paediatrics, Brompton Hospital, London.
D P
DP
Southall
V
V
Stebbens
N
N
Abraham
L
L
Abraham
D001049:Apnea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000503:physiopathology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology