[Neonatal seizures management]

Abstract

For several decades, experimental studies have sought to explain the biological causes of newborn seizures and to assess the anatomical and functional consequences. Laboratory studies have shown that prolonged or repeated seizures disturb central nervous system development and may predispose to later epilepsy or cognitive deficits. Although these findings have not been clinically demonstrated in humans, several observations suggest that neonatal seizures have a deleterious effect on the immature brain and generate long-term sequelae. No therapeutic trial, however, has directly demonstrated the benefits of treatment, underlining the need for controlled studies that integrate the advances in electroencephalographic monitoring and pharmacology of anticonvulsant drugs.