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. 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2578-2589.
doi: 10.1111/jvim.17153. Epub 2024 Aug 12.

Use of sedation-awakening electroencephalography in dogs with epilepsy

Marcin Wrzosek  1   2 , Aleksandra Banasik  1   2 , Adriana Czerwik  3 , Agnieszka Olszewska  3 , Marta Płonek  4 , Veronika Stein  5
Affiliations

Use of sedation-awakening electroencephalography in dogs with epilepsy

Marcin Wrzosek et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2024 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) recording protocols have been standardized for humans. Although the utilization of techniques in veterinary medicine is increasing, a standard protocol has not yet been established.

Hypothesis: Assessment of a sedation-awakening EEG protocol in dogs.

Animals: Electroencephalography examination was performed in a research colony of 6 nonepileptic dogs (control [C]) and 12 dogs with epilepsy admitted to the clinic because of the epileptic seizures.

Methods: It was a prospective study with retrospective control. Dogs with epilepsy were divided into 2 equal groups, wherein EEG acquisition was performed using a "sedation" protocol (IE-S, n = 6) and a "sedation-awakening" protocol (IE-SA, n = 6). All animals were sedated using medetomidine. In IE-SA group, sedation was reversed 5 minutes after commencing the EEG recording by injecting atipamezole IM. Type of background activity (BGA) and presence of EEG-defined epileptiform discharges (EDs) were evaluated blindly. Statistical significance was set at P > 0.05.

Results: Epileptiform discharges were found in 1 of 6 of the dogs in group C, 4 of 6 of the dogs in IE-S group, and 5 of 6 of the dogs in IE-SA group. A significantly greater number of EDs (spikes, P = .0109; polyspikes, P = .0109; sharp waves, P = .01) were detected in Phase 2 in animals subjected to the "sedation-awakening" protocol, whereas there was no statistically significant greater number of discharges in sedated animals.

Conclusions and clinical importance: A "sedation-awakening" EEG protocol could be of value for ambulatory use if repeated EEG recordings and monitoring of epilepsy in dogs is needed.

Keywords: ambulatory EEG; canine electroencephalography; canine epilepsy diagnosis; epilepsy; paroxysmal; sedation; seizure.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
SWE montage. SWE, subdermal wire electrodes.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Electroencephalographic recordings from a 4‐year‐old male cavalier King Charles spaniel showing muscular activity artifacts in O1, O2 derivations (blue arrows).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Electroencephalographic recordings from a 6‐year‐old male Siberian husky showing high voltage, low frequency (HVLF) background activity.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Electroencephalographic recordings from a 6‐year‐old male Siberian husky showing low voltage, high frequency (LVHF) background activity.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Electroencephalographic recordings from a 3‐year‐old female border collie showing physiological transient—sleep spindle (blue arrow).
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Boxplots comparing EDs (spikes) among the groups. EDs, epileptiform discharges.
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Boxplots comparing EDs (polyspikes) among the groups. EDs, epileptiform discharges.
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
Electroencephalographic recordings from a 3‐year‐old female border collie showing spike activity (red arrow) from the T4 lead and HVLF BGA. Discharge localization is defined based on the highest amplitude in the reference montage and reversed polarity in the bipolar montage recording. BGA, background activity; HVLF, high voltage, low frequency.
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9
Electroencephalographic recordings from a 3‐year‐old female border collie showing polyspike activity (red arrow) from the T4 lead and LVHF BGA. Discharge localization is defined based on the highest amplitude in the reference montage and reversed polarity in the bipolar montage recording. BGA, background activity; LVHF, low voltage, high frequency.
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10
Boxplots comparing EDs (sharp waves) among the groups. EDs, epileptiform discharges.
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