Epilepsy and ANesthesia

[bulletproofbarb]

Trying to find out about the effects of anesthesia in people taking anticonvulsants when they have general surgery...not surgery for epilepsy.

Do these patients have an incresed risk of seizures, do they get confusion and take longer to wake up than those not on antiepileptic therapy?

Thanks,

[DD-RN]

Barb,

My son (who has epilepsy) has been under anesthesia 4 times (2 subdural grid surgeries and 2 lobectomies). The anesthesiologist told me that anesthesia actually has "anti-seizure qualities" and for us not to worry about seizures during the surgery. My son had many seizures post-op but that was due to the brain trauma. I think your anesthesiologist will be better to answer you on Sunday. Best of luck with your surgery.

[bulletproofbarb]

Thanks everyone. I'm going in today Have I slept...no

Surgery tomorrow

I've got a room near the exit, you know, just in case I decide to do a runner :chuckle

[bulletproofbarb]

Well I survived to tell the tale.

The anesthetist said that anesthetic can cause a higher risk of seziures. I am not sure if that is specific for Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy though. I forgot to ask. I have absence, myoclonic and grand mal seziures but haven't had grand mal for 10 years, had myoclonic a few months ago which is normal for me.

I had a couple of myoclonic jerks post op but thats because of the painkillers. I can't take many painkillers that don't affect me anyway, so in the end I refused them all.

I found this site that talks about procedures and epilepsy.

I hope it helps the person who asked, I can't remember your user name now.

http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/procedures.html

it has further links on the side and is the best I could find.

I had an asthma attack in revovery. I was on 15L oxygen and my stas kept dropping, my resp rate was 28. I was scared because I could hear and see all these people and they were all talking at once to me and then the anesthetist came out and ordered the neb. Thats the second anesthetic I have had and done that yet I very rarely have problems with my asthma. I've had it since I was a kid and have only been hospitalised once and attended ED a few times.