Electroencephalogram Activation in Medically Intractable Epileptic Patients

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Abstract
Intravenous and intracarotid administration of methohexital (Brevital) sodium has been used to activate focal seizure discharge in medically intractable psychomotor epileptic patients who were candidates for temporal lobe resection in an effort to control their seizure disorders. Electroencephalogram data recorded during intravenous and intracarotid injection show methohexital to be an activator of autonomous or independent temporal lobe foci. Data recorded during intracarotid injections confirmed EEG findings obtained during intravenous injections which indicate that methohexital activates primary temporal lobe foci and not dependent secondary foci. Corticographic data obtained at the time of temporal lobectomy confirmed the activation of focal epileptiform discharge following intravenously administered methohexital. Furthermore, preliminary data suggest that use of the drug during corticography helps delineate the extent of the electrical focus, thus assisting the surgeon in determining the extent of the brain resection.

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