Suresh S. Kanakannavar1
ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: To study 1) The effect of seizures on pregnant women. 2) Foetal outcome in women with seizures. 3) The effect of pregnancy on the seizures. METHODS: A retrospective study was done from the hospital case records of 30 epileptic pregnant women with seizure disorders (EPWSD), admitted from 1st of July 2012. Seizures due to other causes like eclampsia, cerebro vascular accidents, were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients with EPWSD were studied. Majority belonged to lower socioeconomic status. When epilepsy was under control with adequate use of anti-epileptics, outcome of pregnancy was not adversely affected compared to non-epileptic pregnant women. The rate of induction of labour was not increased in them. Epilepsy was not an indication for Caesarean sections in these women and was mainly for other obstetric indications and the Caesarean section rate was comparable to non-epileptic pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy and child birth in women with epileptic seizure disorders is safe with the availability of anti-epileptics, with good antennal, intranatal and post natal ultra-modern methods of surveillance and close monitoring of these women.
