UCSF

Abstract

A 9 year-old girl with developmental delay and seizure disorder presented for evaluation of witnessed breathing pauses during sleep that were not associated with snoring or gasping. Polysomnography showed a generalized seizure with post ictal central apnea associated with severe desaturation and a post central apnea brief seizure. This case report discusses the pathophysiology of post-ictal desaturations and breathing abnormalities during seizures and their possible association with sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. The case also demonstrates the utility of polysomnography for the diagnosis of breathing abnormalities associated with seizures.