Tooth-brushing epilepsy: an SEEG study and surgical treatment.

We report a patient with reflex tooth-brushing-triggered epilepsy, associated with a post-central lesion within the right somatosensory face area. Contralateral facial sensory and motor phenomena, associated with contralateral upper limb extension, were present at seizure onset after gingival stimulation, but seizures could also be induced by contact with solid food or liquids. Spontaneous seizures also were recorded. Secondary generalization was infrequent. Stereoelectroencephalography implantation was performed, with seizure recording and cortical/subcortical stimulation for mapping, to identify the precise extent of surgical resection. Complete postoperative control of epilepsy was achieved, accompanied by a mild and transient neurological deficit. [Published with video sequence].

Role of EMSE and STESS scores in the outcome evaluation of status epilepticus.

Status epilepticus (SE) is a severe neurological condition with significant morbidity and mortality. A reliable tool for prognosis is needed to take decision regarding treatment strategies. We compared 2 available prognostic scores of outcome: the Status Epilepticus Severity Score (STESS) and the Epidemiology-based Mortality score in SE (EMSE). We included 46 patients with SE evaluated out the last 5years in our hospital. We excluded patients with postanoxic encephalopathy or incomplete data. Among the 46 patients with SE, in-hospital mortality was 28%. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predicting of death by STESS had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 with cutoff point ≥4. The best EMSE variable combination to predict mortality was EMSE-AEL using an optimized cutoff point of 34 (age/etiology/loss of consciousness) with an area under the ROC of 0.79. The STESS and EMSE would be useful tools to predict in-hospital mortality in SE.