EFFECTIVENESS OF ANTI-EPILEPTIC DRUGS IN PROPHYLAXIS OF POST TRAUMATIC EPILEPSY

Effectiveness of anti-epileptic drugs in prophylaxis of post traumatic epilepsy. AIM: To determine the incidence of epileptic seizure after traumatic brain injury in case with or without antiepileptic prophylaxis and to determine the role of AEDs after 7 days of trauma. METHODS: This study represents a randomized case control study. The sample of patient. Considered was of adult patients >13yrs age of both sexes with severe brain injury admitted in Hamidia Hospital Bhopal. On admission a detailed history of any previous episode of seizure before trauma was taken. If prior seizures were present then patient was excluded from study. Every patient of head injury having brain injury or skull fracture was given a loading dose of anticonvulsants (phenytoin) of dose 20mg/kg body weight then continued anticonvulsants for coming 7 days in maintenance dose of 5mg/kg/day and then stopped. Patient & attendants are explained about the seizure. RESULT: Out of total 300 study eligible patients, 15 have late post traumatic seizure, all with GCS at the time of admission was <8. In this 15 cases, 9 were in group who were given antiepileptic drug prophylaxis & in rest of 6 patients antiepileptic drug prophylaxis was given for period of 7 days only after traumatic brain injury and then stopped. Maximum cases are seen in age group 20-29 yr and mostly are males. Of all 15 patients, 7 were operated & 8 were kept on conservative treatment, the non-operative patients as well as operated case had post traumatic seizure. CONCLUSION: On basis of our study analysis we conclude that continued phenytoin treatments cannot reduce the late post traumatic seizure but is effective in first week of significant traumatic brain injury.