Levetiracetam | Pediatric Critical Care Evidence

Chung MG, O’Brien NF. Prevalence of Early Posttraumatic Seizures in Children With Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Despite Levetiracetam Prophylaxis. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2015 Dec 11. [Epub ahead of print]

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of early seizures after levetiracetam prophylaxis in children with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.

DESIGN: Prospective observational study.

SETTING: Level 1 pediatric trauma center.

PATIENTS: We enrolled 34 patients between the ages of 0-18 years with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury admitted to the PICU at a level 1 trauma center who received levetiracetam for early posttraumatic seizure prophylaxis.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Primary outcome was the prevalence of early posttraumatic seizures that were defined as clinical seizures within 7 days of injury. In 6 of 34 patients (17%), clinical seizures developed despite levetiracetam prophylaxis. An additional two patients had nonconvulsive seizures. This prevalence is similar to that reported in the literature in this patient population who do not receive seizure prophylaxis (20-53%) and is higher than that in patients who receive phenytoin prophylaxis (2-15%). Patients with early posttraumatic seizures were younger (median age, 4 mo) (p < 0.001) and more likely to have suffered from abusive head trauma (p < 0.0004).

CONCLUSIONS: Early clinical posttraumatic seizures occurred frequently in children with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury despite seizure prophylaxis with levetiracetam. Younger children and those with abusive head trauma were at increased risk of seizures. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of levetiracetam before it is routinely used for seizure prophylaxis in these children, particularly in young children and those who have suffered from abusive head trauma.

J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013 Mar;74(3):766-73. PMID: 23425733

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BACKGROUND: Brain Trauma Foundation guidelines recommend seizure prophylaxis for preventing early posttraumatic seizure (PTS). Phenytoin (PHE) is commonly used. Despite a paucity of data in traumatic brain injury, levetiracetam (LEV) has been introduced as a potential replacement, which is more costly but does not require serum monitoring. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of PHE with that of LEV for preventing early PTS.

METHODS: Consecutive blunt traumatic brain injury patients undergoing seizure prophylaxis were prospectively enrolled at two Level 1 trauma centers during a 33-month period. Seizure prophylaxis was administered according to local protocol. Patients were monitored prospectively throughout their hospital stay for clinical evidence of seizure activity. PHE was compared with LEV with clinical early PTS as the primary outcome measure, defined as a seizure diagnosed clinically, occurring within 7 days of admission.

RESULTS: A total of 1,191 patients were screened for enrollment, after excluding 378 (31.7%) who did not meet inclusion criteria; 813 (68.3%) were analyzed (406 LEV and 407 PHE). There were no significant differences between LEV and PHE in age (51.7 [21.3] vs. 53.6 [22.5], p = 0.205), male (73.9% vs. 68.8%, p = 0.108), Injury Severity Score (ISS) (20.0 [10.0] vs. 21.0 [10.6], p = 0.175), Marshall score of 3 or greater (18.5% vs. 14.7%, p = 0.153), or craniectomy (8.4% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.106). There was no difference in seizure rate (1.5% vs.1.5%, p = 0.997), adverse drug reactions (7.9% vs. 10.3%, p = 0.227), or mortality (5.4% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.236).

CONCLUSION: In this prospective evaluation of early PTS prophylaxis, LEV did not outperform PHE. Cost and need for serum monitoring should be considered in guiding the choice of prophylactic agent.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level III.

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Tag Archives: Levetiracetam

Prevalence of Early Posttraumatic Seizures in Children With Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Despite Levetiracetam Prophylaxis. (Coleman)

A prospective multicenter comparison of levetiracetam versus phenytoin for early posttraumatic seizure prophylaxis. (from Journal of Acute Care & Surgery, March 2013 – Petrillo)