Dr. Amit Vatkar
Pedaitric Neurologist , India
Title: Treatment of Neonatal Seizures: leviteraceteam vs Phenobarbitone
Biography:
I am Dr. Amit Vatkar, MBBS,DCH,DNB(Ped) working as a Pediatric Neurologist in Mumbai.
I have completed my DNB in pediatrics in 20011, I have been working in Pediatrics for last 4 years. I have completed Fellowship in Pediatric Neurology (Mumbai) under the guidance of Vrajesh Udani, in India.. I was part of the Hinduja Pediatric Neurology speciality center from 2011 to 2013. I has also been trained in Epilepsy & neurophysiology at Case western Reserve University at Cleveland under the guidance of Dr. Hans Luders.
I am currently associated with few hospitals as an expert in Pediatric Neurology field and has been treating their patients.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Neonatal seizures include those critical events whose onset has occurred during the first 28 days of life and till date, phenobarbital and phenytoin remain the most common anticonvulsive drugs administered in this age group. When administered apart, these drugs result in resolution of <50% of neonatal seizures. When used in combination, the percentage of seizure resolution rises up to 60% of all treated cases. Neonatal seizures are often refractory to treatment with initial antiseizure medications. Consequently, clinicians turn to alternatives such as levetiracetam, despite the lack of published data regarding its safety, tolerability, or efficacy in the neonatal population.
Methodology: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Phenobarbitone and levetiracetam (LEV) as first-line treatment of neonatal seizures admitted in NICU.This study was conducted in patients of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Satyam Hospital Raebareli. A total of 200 neonates with convulsions not associated with major syndromes, which required anticonvulsant therapy, were analysed for the use of IV Leviteracetam or IV phenobarbitone at standard doses.
Findings: All patients responded to treatment, with a variety range of seizure resolution. The number of patients required a second anticonvulsant therapy. Regarding safety of LEV, no major side-effects were observed.