Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Levetiracetam to prevent seizures after shunt surgery in dogs
By Mullins, Ronan A et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2019·University College Dublin·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of prophylactic treatment with levetiracetam on the incidence of postattenuation seizures in dogs undergoing surgical management of single congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs undergoing surgery for a congenital liver condition called extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (cEHPSS) were monitored for seizures that could occur after the procedure. Out of nearly 940 dogs, about 8% experienced post-surgery seizures, regardless of whether they received a medication called levetiracetam to prevent them. The study found that giving levetiracetam before and after surgery did not significantly lower the chances of these seizures occurring. It's important for pet owners to know that dogs should be closely watched for seizures in the week following this type of surgery.
People also search for: dog seizures after surgery · levetiracetam for dogs · congenital liver shunt in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report the incidence of postattenuation seizures (PAS) in dogs that underwent single congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (cEHPSS) attenuation and to compare incidence of PAS in dogs that either did or did not receive prophylactic treatment with levetiracetam (LEV). STUDY DESIGN: Multi-institutional retrospective study. POPULATION: Nine hundred forty dogs. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed to identify dogs that underwent surgical attenuation of a single cEHPSS from January 2005 through July 2017 and developed PAS within 7 days postoperatively. Dogs were divided into 3 groups: no LEV (LEV-); LEV at ≥15 mg/kg every 8 hours for ≥24 hours preoperatively or a 60 mg/kg intravenous loading dose perioperatively, followed by ≥15 mg/kg every 8 hours postoperatively (LEV1); and LEV at <15 mg/kg every 8 hours, for <24 hours preoperatively, or continued at <15 mg/kg every 8 hours postoperatively (LEV2). RESULTS: Seventy-five (8.0%) dogs developed PAS. Incidence of PAS was 35 of 523 (6.7%), 21 of 188 (11.2%), and 19 of 228 (8.3%) in groups LEV-, LEV1, and LEV2, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (P = .14). No differences between groups of dogs that seized with respect to investigated variables were identified. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of PAS was low (8%). Prophylactic treatment with LEV according to the protocols that were investigated in our study was not associated with a reduced incidence of PAS. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Prophylactic treatment with LEV does not afford protection against development of PAS. Surgically treated dogs should continue to be monitored closely during the first 7 days postoperatively for seizures.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30706530/