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Stimulus-sensitive post-anoxic focal motor seizures evolving into generalised myoclonic status epilepticus: a video-EEG study Volume 12, issue 1, March 2010

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  • Stimulus-sensitive post-anoxic focal motor seizures evolving

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Authors
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology; “Marqués de Valdecilla” University Hospital, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Cantabria; Santander, Cantabria, Spain

We describe the case of a 62-year-old man who developed stimulus-induced focal motor seizures after prolonged cardiac arrest. During a video-EEG study, these focal motor seizures progressed into a generalised myoclonic status epilepticus. Both the severely decremented background activity on the EEG, and the absence of median and trigeminal somatosensory evoked potentials were in keeping with a devastating post-hypoxic encephalopathy and the patient died. Our clinical and electrophysiology data suggest that generalised myoclonic status epilepticus may occur in patients in whom the existence of severe cerebral damage prevents a complete development of all phases of classic generalised tonic-clonic seizures. [Published with video sequences]