Incidence of Postoperative Seizures with and without Levetiracetam Pretreatment in Dogs Undergoing Portosystemic Shunt Attenuation

Background In dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts (CPS), postligation seizures can be challenging to treat and often result in mortality. Levetiracetam (LEV) is a novel anticonvulsive drug that is commonly used in humans with seizure disorders who have hepatic comorbidity. Objectives To compar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of veterinary internal medicine 2011-11, Vol.25 (6), p.1379-1384
Main Authors: Fryer, K.J., Levine, J.M., Peycke, L.E., Thompson, J.A., Cohen, N.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anticonvulsant drugs
Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use
Canine
Dog Diseases - surgery
Dogs
Female
Incidence
Ligation
Male
Piracetam - analogs & derivatives
Piracetam - therapeutic use
Portal System - abnormalities
Portal System - surgery
Postoperative Complications - veterinary
Seizures - drug therapy
Seizures - veterinary
Status epilepticus
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Summary:Background In dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts (CPS), postligation seizures can be challenging to treat and often result in mortality. Levetiracetam (LEV) is a novel anticonvulsive drug that is commonly used in humans with seizure disorders who have hepatic comorbidity. Objectives To compare the incidence of postoperative seizures in dogs that underwent surgical attenuation of an extrahepatic CPS and preoperatively received either LEV or no anticonvulsant medication. Animals A total of 126 dogs undergoing attenuation of an extrahepatic CPS that preoperatively received either LEV or no anticonvulsant medication. Methods Retrospective case review. Information obtained included signalment, duration of clinical signs, presence of neurologic abnormalities before surgery, preoperative bile acid and ammonia concentrations, diagnostic imaging modality, duration of hospitalization, postoperative complications including seizures, and discharge status. Bayesian Poisson regression was used to estimate the risk of seizures in LEV‐treated dogs when compared with untreated dogs. Results Levetiracetam was administered to 33% (42/126) of dogs. No dog treated with LEV experienced postoperative seizures, whereas 5% (4/84) of dogs not treated with LEV experienced postoperative seizures. The relative risk of seizures was significantly (P 
ISSN:0891-6640
1939-1676
DOI:10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00819.x