Seizure triggers identified postictally using a smart watch reporting system.

Persons with epilepsy (PWE) often report that seizure triggers can influence the occurrence and timing of seizures. Some previous studies of seizure triggers have relied on retrospective daily seizure diaries or surveys pertaining to all past seizures, recent and/or remote, in respondents. To assess the characteristics of seizure triggers at the granularity of individual seizures, we used a seizure-tracking app, called EpiWatch, on a smart watch system (Apple Watch and iPhone) in a national study of PWE.

Postictal stertor: Associations with focal and bilateral seizure types.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine the association between respiratory stertor and focal and bilateral seizure types.

Methods: We characterized ictal and postictal behaviors during symmetric bilateral tonic-clonic (TC) and asymmetric TC seizures in the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) epilepsy monitoring unit, comparing these to focal unaware seizures. We measured the presence and duration of postictal stertorous respirations, postictal generalized electroencephalographic suppression (PGES), immobility/motor dysfunction, and encephalopathy and determined their associations and relationship to seizure types.

Strategies for non-EEG seizure detection and timing for alerting and interventions with tonic-clonic seizures.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a common cause of death in epilepsy and frequently occurs following generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS). Non-electroencephalography (EEG) seizure detection systems using mobile sensor devices permit caregivers to assist patients during seizures and may reduce risks for complications of seizures such as injuries and SUDEP. We review changes in accelerometry, electrodermal activity, and heart rate associated with tonic-clonic seizures and their use in detection systems, including multimodal detectors.