Early Post-traumatic Seizure Occurrence in Pediatric Patients Receiving Levetiracetam Prophylaxis With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Although levetiracetam is used for the prevention of early Post-traumatic seizures (EPTS) after traumatic brain injury (TBI), limited data exist describing the incidence of seizures in pediatric patients receiving levetiracetam prophylaxis. The objective of this research is to evaluate the prevalence of EPTS in children given prophylactic levetiracetam after severe TBI. METHODS This study was conducted at a Level 1 pediatric trauma center and included pediatric patients with severe TBI who received levetiracetam for EPTS prophylaxis. Demographics and clinical information were retrospectively collected and evaluated. The primary outcome was prevalence of clinical or electrographic seizures within 7 days of initial injury as noted in the EMR. RESULTS In 4 of 44 patients (9%), seizures developed despite levetiracetam prophylaxis. Concurrent use of other medications with antiepileptic properties was common (91%). There were no differences in demographic or baseline clinical characteristics between the group of patients experiencing seizures and those who did not. However, craniotomy was significantly more common in the seizure group (75% vs. 18%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Children receiving prophylaxis with levetiracetam after severe TBI had a lower incidence of seizures (9%) than had previously been reported in the literature (18%). Given the limited literature available supporting the use of levetiracetam for the prevention of EPTS in children experiencing severe TBI, further study is needed to support routine use.