INCIDENCE OF EARLY SEIZURE IN NON-TRAUMATIC POSTERIOR FOSSA SURGERIES: A MULTI-CENTERS EXPERIENCES

The posterior fossa runs from the tentorial incisura where it communicates with the supratentorial space to the foramen magnum where it communicates with the spinal canal. Seizure: Abnormal paroxysmal discharge from the cerebral neurons causing changes in sensation, motor function, behavior or consciousness. The 89 patients who underwent posterior fossa surgery between July 2022 and January 2023 at Neurosurgical teaching hospital, Ghazi ALhariri hospital for surgical specialties, ALkadhmiya teaching hospital and Doctor Saad Al witry teaching hospital for Neuroscience form the basis of this study. patients with supratentorial lesions were excluded. Those patients with a preoperative history of seizure or with posterior fossa lesions due to head injury were also excluded. In this department, no anticonvulsant drugs are administered to patients unless there is evidence of seizure. Included in this study were 89 patients who underwent a total of 89 posterior fossa operations. The youngest patient was 3 years old and the oldest 66 years old. The male-to- female ratio was 1: 1.06. Eleven (12%) of the patients developed seizures within 2 weeks after the operation. The highest incidence was among patients with metastasis (33%) and cerebellopontine angle meningioma (33%), followed by those with astrocytoma (19%), cerebellopontine angle vestibular shwannoma (12.5), ependymoma (6.6%), medulloblastoma (4.7%). Spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage and cerebellar abscess were not associated with early postoperative seizure. Early seizures after non-traumatic posterior fossa surgery are uncommon and are mainly associated with secondary supratentorial complications and systemic metabolic disturbances rather than the posterior fossa pathology itself. Prompt identification and correction of these factors may reduce seizure risk and improve outcomes.