Seizures After Cardiac Surgery -- A Study With Continuous EEG Monitoring

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of nonconvulsive seizures after cardiac surgery using an electroencephalogram or EEG, which records brainwaves through the scalp.

Clinical Trial Description

Background: Most patients do not have any neurological complications after cardiac surgery, but fewer than 1% may have a seizure (abnormal brain activity), with or without a convulsion. This can be due to a reaction to certain types of drugs or less commonly stroke or inflammation. Some seizures in post-operative and intensive care unit patients do not result in convulsions, but rather the abnormal brain activity simply causes confusion or unresponsiveness. The incidence of this type of "nonconvulsive"seizure after cardiac surgery is unknown.

Purpose of the study: The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of nonconvulsive seizures after cardiac surgery using an electroencephalogram or EEG, which records brainwaves through the scalp.

Design of the study: The investigators target is to enroll 150 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The investigators are including patients greater than 18 years of age who are admitted to the CSRU immediately after cardiac surgery. Included patients are of normal mentation and are able to give their own consent. The investigators will exclude only those patients for whom technical issues prevent us from recording the EEG. ;

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

Clinical Trial Details

NCT number	NCT01291992
Study type	Observational
Source	Lawson Health Research Institute
Contact
Status	Completed
Phase	N/A
Start date	September 2010
Completion date	January 2013

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