Cardiac dysfunction during status epilepticus in the neonatal pig

Cardiovascular complications frequently occur during status epilepticus. To determine the changes in systemic and pulmonary arterial pressure, cardi output, and left ventricular contractility during seizures, 1-week-old pigs were intubated, paralyzed, mechanicall entilated, and catheterized with a Swan-Ganz catheter. Seizures were induced with intravenous bicuculline. Early changes consisted of significant systemic and pulmonary arterial hypertension. After 2 hours of seizures, the animals developed progressive systemic hypotension and decreased cardiac output. M-mode echocardiography disclosed a decrease in left ventricular contractility. Cardiac tissue frozen in situ showed a significant increase in lactate and reductions in glucose, triglyceride, and adenosine triphosphate levels. Prolonged seizures in the neonatal pig result in cardiac dysfunction, which may play a role in the development of epileptic brain damage.