Cardiorespiratory analysis on children suffering from absence and complex partial seizures

The effects of epilepsy on the autonomic control functions such as the heart rate and respiration can vary from one type of seizures to another. Complex-partial seizures originating in the temporal lobe for example, are accompanied by apnoea episodes, while absence seizures do not seem to alter the cardio-respiratory control in any significant manner. This behaviour have been observed and studied during seizures. However, little is known on the effect of interictal epileptic activity on the control of the heart rate and respiration. In this work, these effects are studied and the cardio-respiratory control of children suffering from complex-partial seizures seems to be only affected during seizures. However, significant differences on heart rate and respiration between children suffering from absence seizures and healthy subjects are found. These differences are assessed by means of heart rate variability analysis and ECG derived respiration.