Methohexital as an activator in epileptic patients with normal electroencephalograms
Harel, D.; Sharf, B.; Bental, E.
Israel Journal of Medical Sciences 11(10): 986-990
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-2180 PMID: 1193833 Document Number: 83074
The activation by a short-acting barbiturate, methohexital, of spike and wave discharges in epileptic patients with normal EEG tracings was evaluated. Seventy-five patients and 20 healthy control subjects were studied. Non-specific changes--desynchronization, fast sharp activity and diffuse slowing--appeared in all the tracings. Only eleven patients had positive activation after methohexital administration. The results were not encouraging and indicate that methohexital is not reliable as a diagnostic tool in problematic cases of verified or suspected epilepsy with normal EEG tracings.