Traumatic brain injury and critical care seizures

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury is a disease process representing an area of increasing interest, both in the acute care setting and with regard to long-term complications. Seizures are well recognized as both early and late sequela of traumatic brain injury, which can cause secondary insults and lead to worsened outcomes and long-term morbidity. Thus, the recognition and early interventions for treatment of seizures and status epilepticus are of paramount importance and will be the primary focus. This chapter will also emphasize the incidence of seizures and risk factors involved in their development. Recommendations and clinical evidence regarding seizure prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment will be discussed. Finally, various experimental animal models and the growing research in epileptogenesis following brain injury will be reviewed.