title: Video-EEG in syncopal attack due to ocular compression in an adolescent mistreated for epilepsy.
abstract: Vasovagal syncope can be confused with epileptic seizure. In this situation, eye compression may be performed during EEG. We present a video-EEG of a patient in whom eye compression produced a typical syncope. Before this recording, the patient had been treated for five years with sodium valproate because of a misdiagnosis of epilepsy. The diagnosis of neurally-mediated syncope was not difficult on the basis of the clinical history, but the reproduction of syncope reinforced the correct diagnosis. Ocular compression is now only indicated in exceptional circumstances and should be performed with precautions. The video of this episode in an adolescent should be of considerable educational value to those who are confronted to diagnostic work-up of transient loss of consciousness.
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Unit, Montpellier University Hospital Gui de Chauliac, Montpellier Cedex 05, France. p-gelisse@chu-montpellier.fr
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gelisse
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serafini
authors.forename: Jean Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Davy
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balbe
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coubes
authors.forename: Arielle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crespel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D011312:Pressure; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014743:Videotape Recording
chemical_list: D014635:Valproic Acid