Abstract
The cardiovascular effects of seizures in the neonate are not well defined. To determine the changes in systemic and pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac output, and left ventricular contractility during seizures, one week old pigs were intubated, paralyzed, mechanically ventilated, and catheterized with a swan-ganz catheter. Seizures were induced with bicuculline (5 mg/kg/hr continuously i.v.) in 5 animals (6 controls received saline). Early changes consisted of significant systemic and pulmonary arterial hypertension. After 2 hours of seizures, the animals developed progressive systemic hypotension (saline, 93 ± 4 mmHg; bicuculline, 66 ± 8; Mean ± SE; p<0.01; student t test) and decreased cardiac function (cardiac output: saline, 174 ± 27 ml/kg/min; bicuculline, 91 ± 15 ml/kg/min; p<0.01). M-mode echocardiography disclosed a decrease in left ventricular contractility (Ejection Fraction: Saline, 0.70 ± 0.03; bicuculline, 0.49 ± 0.08; p<0.001). Cardiac tissue frozen in situ showed significant increase in lactate (Saline, 13.3 ± 0.7 mmol/g/dry wt.; bicuculline, 102.8 ± 4.9: p<0.01), and reductions in glucose, triglyceride, and ATP (Saline, 17.1 ± 0.1 mmol/g/dry wt.; bicuculline, 11.5 ± 0.3; p<0.01). Prolonged seizures result in severe cardiac dysfunction which may be due to tissue acidosis or catecholamine release.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Young, R., Frlpp, R., Werner, J. et al. 226 HEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF PROLONGED SEIZURES IN NEONATAL PIGS. Pediatr Res 19, 148 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00256
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00256