SUMMARYPurpose: Video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring plays a central role in the presurgical evaluation of medically refractory epilepsies and the diagnosis of nonepileptic attack disorders (NEADs). The aim of this study was to analyze safety and adverse events (AEs) during video-EEG monitoring. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 596 video-EEG sessions in 507 patients (233 men, mean age 36 years, standard deviation = 14, range 9-80 years) within a 6-year period. AEs were examined in detail and their risk factors were assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Key Findings: Forty-four patients (9%) experienced 53 AEs: 20 had psychiatric events (17 postictal psychosis, 2 panic attacks, 1 interictal psychosis), 15 had injuries (14 falls with minor injuries, 2 falls with fractures, 2 fractures without fall, 1 fall with epidural hematoma), 10 patients had 13 episodes of status epilepticus (SE), and one AE was treatment-related (valproic acid -induced encephalopathy). Patients with AEs were older (p = 0.036) and had a longer duration of epilepsy (p = 0.019). All AEs resulted in a prolonged hospital stay (p < 0.001). Ninety-one percent of the AEs occurred within the first 4 days of monitoring. Independent risk factors were duration of epilepsy >17 years [odds ratio (OR) 3.096; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.548-6.189], a previous history of psychiatric illness (OR 16.882;), a history of seizurerelated injuries (OR 3.542; 95% CI 1.069-11.739), or a history of SE (OR 3.334; 95% CI 1.297-8.565). Significance: The most common AEs were postictal psychosis, falls, and SE. Patients with an older age, long disease duration, psychiatric comorbidity, history of injuries, and SE have a higher risk.

Status epilepticus (SE) and seizure clusters (SC) represent neurologic emergencies with a case fatality rate up to 34%, depending on cause and comorbidity. As SE becomes more refractory to treatment over time, appropriate medication is important. This study aimed to investigate efficacy and tolerability of intravenous (IV) lacosamide (LCM) in treatment of SC and SE. Data of patients with SE or SC who were treated with IV LCM between December 2009 and February 2011 in two Austrian centers were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical information was extracted from patients' charts. Forty-eight patients (26f/22m) aged median 62 years (range 17-95 years) were identified. Thirty-five percent of patients (17 of 48) had SC and 65% (31 of 48) had SE. SE was nonconvulsive in 10 (32%), convulsive in 11 (36%), and focal in 10 (32%) patients. SE was acute symptomatic in six (20%) and remote symptomatic in 11 (35%) patients. Fourteen (45%) had preexisting epilepsy. Median initial bolus dose was 200 mg (range 200-400 mg) in patients with SE and 200 mg in patients with SC. Maximum infusion rate was 60 mg/min. Cessation was observed in 42 patients (88%). Success rate in patients with SE receiving LCM as first or second drug was 100% (8 of 8), as third drug 81% (11 of 15), and as fourth or later drug 75% (6 of 8). There were no side effects observed except for pruritus and skin rash in two patients. These data support use of IV LCM as a potential alternative to standard antiepileptic drugs for acute treatment of seizure emergency situations, although randomized controlled studies are needed.

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JME does not always need lifelong treatment, as a substantial minority of patients remain seizure-free without AEDs. AS, MS and GTCS at onset of the disease are indicators of poor long-term seizure control.

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