Evaluation of Etiological Causes and Demographic Characteristics of Neonatal Seizure in Adiyaman University Training And Research Hospital, Türkiye: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Aim: Neonatal seizures are different from seizures seen at other ages in terms of etiology, clinical follow-up, treatment and prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the etiological causes and demographic characteristics of neonates admitted due to seizures in the neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: This is an original study involving newborns hospitalized for seizures in the neonatal intensive care unit at Adıyaman University Training and Research Hospital. The files of 40 patients followed up due to seizures between September 2016 and July 2021, were examined retrospectively. 40 out of 45 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. The files of 40 patients were retrospectively analyzed in terms of age, sex, gestational age, birth weight, mode of delivery, APGAR score, seizure etiology, intervention and treatment, electroencephalography (EEG), trans fontanel ultrasonography (USG) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, length of hospital stay, and mortality rates. Results: The study group consisted of 40 patients, 21 girls (52.5%) and 19 boys (47.5%). Twenty-seven (67%) of the patient group were born at term and 13 (33%) preterm. The mean birth week was 38, and the mean birth weight was 2900 g. The underlying seizure etiology was unknown in 37.5% (n = 15) of cases, while the most common known etiological cause was hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, seen in 20% (n = 8). The mortality rate in our patient group was 22.5% (n = 9). Conclusion: Among the known causes of neonatal convulsions, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in term babies and germinal matrix bleeding in preterm babies were found to be the most common causes. However, despite all kinds of examinations and evaluations, the cause of a significant portion of them has not been determined. Long-term follow-up of newborns with convulsions is required to detect early neurodevelopmental problems that may develop during follow-up.

Keywords

• Etiology
• neonatal
• seizures

References

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