JLE

Epileptic Disorders

MENU

Electropositive seizures and non-convulsive status epilepticus in a critically ill patient with prior skull defect Volume 22, issue 2, April 2020

Figures


  • Figure 1

  • Figure 2
Authors
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
* Correspondence: Tadeu A. Fantaneanu 1053 Carling Ave, Rm 2194, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9 Canada

Epileptiform discharges captured on routine scalp EEG typically carry a surface negative dipole. We present a patient whose continuous EEG recording in the intensive care setting captured frequent electropositive non-convulsive seizures. Epileptiform discharges with positive polarity are common in the pediatric population but have rarely been reported in adult patients. When reported in adults, such patients usually have skull defects. As surface positive discharges are scarce, adult electroencephalographers should be prudent to differentiate such discharges from artifact, particularly in an intensive care setting where EEG artifact is common.