Postictal stertor: Associations with focal and bilateral seizure types

• Published in: Epilepsy & behavior Vol. 110; p. 107103
• Main Authors: Carmenate, Yaretson I., Gutierrez, Erie G., Kang, Joon Y., Krauss, Gregory L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-09-2020
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Asymmetric TC seizures; Brain Diseases - diagnosis; Brain Diseases - physiopathology; Electroencephalography - methods; Female; Humans; Hypoxia - diagnosis; Hypoxia - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Mechanics - physiology; Seizures - diagnosis; Seizures - physiopathology; Stertor; SUDEP; Tonic–clonic seizures; Video Recording - methods; Young Adult; Asymmetric TC seizures; SUDEP; Stertor; Tonic–clonic seizures
• ISSN: 1525-5050; 1525-5069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107103

The objective of the present study was to determine the association between respiratory stertor and focal and bilateral seizure types.
We characterized ictal and postictal behaviors during symmetric bilateral tonic–clonic (TC) and asymmetric TC seizures in the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) epilepsy monitoring unit, comparing these to focal unaware seizures. We measured the presence and duration of postictal stertorous respirations, postictal generalized electroencephalographic suppression (PGES), immobility/motor dysfunction, and encephalopathy and determined their associations and relationship to seizure types.
In initial seizures recorded in 80 consecutive patients, bilateral symmetric TC seizures (N = 35) were strongly associated with PGES (97%, p < 0.001) and postictal stertorous respirations (89%, p < 0.001). Only 10% of the 20 patients with asymmetric TC seizures had brief PGES; focal unaware seizures (N = 25) were not associated with PGES or stertorous breathing. Some patients (24%) with asymmetric or bilateral symmetric TC seizures had severe postictal encephalopathy with stertor that was separate or extended beyond periods of PGES.
Bilateral symmetric TC seizures, but not focal unaware seizures, have postictal stertor during PGES. Severe postictal encephalopathy, however, is also associated with motor dysfunction and stertor. Stertor appears to be a compensatory postictal respiratory pattern for ictal/postictal hypoxemia and occurs with PGES or postictal encephalopathy.
•Stertor occurs after tonic–clonic (TC) seizures.•Stertor coincides with postictal EEG suppression (PGES) or with encephalopathy.•Most asymmetric TC seizures cause stertor with encephalopathy, not PGES.•Stertor may be a sign of respiratory compensation for ictal apnea/exertion.