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Ictal laryngospasm monitored by video-EEG and polygraphy: a potential SUDEP mechanism Volume 20, issue 2, April 2018

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  • Ictal laryngospasm monitored by video-EEG and polygraphy: a potential SUDEP mechanism

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  • Figure 1

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Authors
1 Epilepsy Center, UH Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland,
2 Cardiology Department, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center,
3 NINDS Center for SUDEP Research (CSR), Cleveland, Ohio, USA
* Correspondence: Nuria Lacuey 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland OHIO 44106, USA

A 56-year-old man with refractory bitemporal epilepsy was monitored in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). In a video-EEG captured seizure, brief oroalimentary automatisms were followed by increased inspiratory effort, accompanied by prominent, visible tracheal movements and audible inspiratory stridor. The patient's oxygen saturation rapidly declined to 62%; persistent severe hypoxemia ended with spontaneous effective respiration commencing at seizure end. Subsequent seizures necessitated intensive care unit admission for respiratory distress, and ventilator support. This case suggests that ictal laryngospasm, a rare seizure manifestation, may represent another potential mechanism of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). [Published with video sequence on www.epilepticdisorders.com].