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Query: UMLS:C0149958 (complex partial seizures)
 2,563 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Partial complex seizures are relatively frequent type of epileptic seizures. These attacks are having aura in 60% of cases, that can be vegetative, motor, sensor or psychological one. Important is aura in the form of uncinatus seizures (unpleasant odor), because we must exclude tumor of temporal region in these patients. Altered consciousness comes after aura, patient has opened eyes, face can be pale or red, and automatism appear, in the form of different movements. These automatisms are often considered insignificant by parents or eyewitnesses. There is often misdiagnosis of this type of seizures, because only about 20% of standard EEG recordings find specific epileptic grapho-elements. Therapy of these seizures is difficult, with the success in only 50% of cases. Ictal automatisms were tested in the group of 36 children with partial complex seizures aged 4 to 17 years. Duration of epilepsy was 1 to 5 years. All patients had proved diagnosis of partial complex seizures, clinically and on electroencephalography, CT scan and MRI in medically intractable seizures. Eleven patients were videotaped during the attack. All patients had questionnaire filled by parents, about automatisms. Thirty-four patients (94.4%) had ictal automatisms, and 2 with epileptic focus in frontal region did not. Some patients had different types of automatisms. Most frequent ones were mimicking (15.19%), sitting-standing up (10.76%), swinging (8.23%), swallowing (7.59%) etc. It can be concluded that automatisms are almost obligatory part of partial complex seizure, and their registration is essential for correct diagnosis and treatment of these seizures.
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PMID:[Ictal automatisms during partial complex seizures in 36 children]. 1121 9

Impaired consciousness has long been considered the hallmark of epileptic seizures. Both generalized seizures and complex partial seizures are characterized by a multifaceted spectrum of altered conscious states, in terms of the general level of awareness and the subjective contents of consciousness. Complete loss of consciousness occurs when epileptic activity involves both cortical and subcortical structures, as in tonic-clonic seizures and absence seizures. Medial temporal lobe discharges can selectively impair experience in complex partial seizures (with affected responsiveness) and certain simple partial seizures (with unaffected responsiveness). Electrical stimulation of temporal lobe structures has been shown to evoke similar subjective experiences. Findings from neurophysiological and brain-imaging studies in epilepsy have now demonstrated that involvement of the bilateral thalamus and upper brainstem leads to selective impairment of frontoparietal association cortices and midline 'default mode' networks, which results in ictal loss of consciousness. The spread of epileptic discharges from the medial temporal lobe to the same subcortical structures can ultimately cause impairment in the level of consciousness in the late ictal and immediate postictal phase of complex partial seizures. This paper reviews novel insights into the brain mechanisms that underlie alterations of consciousness during epileptic seizures and the implications for clinical practice in terms of diagnosis and management.
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PMID:Brain mechanisms of altered conscious states during epileptic seizures. 1948 84

Impaired consciousness in epilepsy has a major negative impact on quality of life. Prior work suggests that complex partial seizures (CPS) and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS), which both cause loss of consciousness, affect similar frontoparietal networks. Milder involvement in CPS than in GTCS may spare some simple behavioral responses, resembling the minimally conscious state. However, this difference in responses has not been rigorously tested previously. During video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring, we administered a standardized prospective testing battery including responses to questions and commands, as well as tests for reaching/grasping a ball and visual tracking in 27 CPS (in 14 patients) and 7 GTCS (in six patients). Behavioral results were analyzed in the ictal and postictal periods based on video review. During both CPS and GTCS, patients were unable to respond to questions or commands. However, during CPS, patients often retained minimally conscious ball grasping and visual tracking responses. Patients were able to successfully grasp a ball in 60% or to visually track in 58% of CPS, and could carry out both activities in 52% of CPS. In contrast, during GTCS, preserved ball grasp (10%), visual tracking (11%), or both (7%), were all significantly less than in CPS. Postictal ball grasping and visual tracking were also somewhat better following CPS than GTCS. These findings suggest that impaired consciousness in CPS is more similar to minimally conscious state than to coma. Further work may elucidate the specific brain networks underlying relatively spared functions in CPS, ultimately leading to improved treatments aimed at preventing impaired consciousness.
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PMID:Testing for minimal consciousness in complex partial and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. 2293 Dec 10