Semiological seizure classification of epileptic seizures in children admitted to video-EEG monitoring unit

Abstract

We aimed to determine seizure characteristics of pediatric patients withepilepsy, and evaluate if Semiological Seizure Classification (SSC) system isapplicable in this cohort.We retrospectively studied 183 patients, aged between 3 months-18 years,admitted to the video-EEG monitoring unit (VEMU). Most patients sufferedfrom intractable epilepsy with comorbidities, and had structural lesions.Seizures were classified based on ictal video-EEG recordings by using SSCsystem; 157 patients had only one seizure type, 26 had more than oneseizure types. Overall 211 seizures and 373 semiologies were analyzed; 114seizures (54%) had more than one semiological subtype. The most frequentsemiology was motor seizures (78%), followed by dialeptic seizures (12%).The most common subtypes were simple motor seizures (49%); tonic seizuresconstituted (28.4%) of all semiologies.We conclude that SSC system is applicable for children with epilepsy admittedto VEMU; complementary EEG and imaging data are required for evaluationof patients with epilepsy.