periictal
Pronunciation: pair-ee-IK-tal
The time period immediately before, during, and after a seizure, encompassing preictal, ictal, and postictal phases.
Full Definition
Periictal refers to the entire time period surrounding an epileptic seizure, encompassing the preictal (before), ictal (during), and postictal (after) phases. This term is used to describe the complete seizure episode and its immediate context. The periictal period is characterized by various clinical, electrographic, and physiological changes that may help localize the seizure focus and understand seizure mechanisms. Monitoring during the periictal period is crucial for epilepsy diagnosis and surgical planning, as it provides information about seizure onset, propagation, and termination patterns.
Usage
Usage note: Encompasses preictal, ictal, and postictal phases.
In Context
- "Periictal monitoring revealed characteristic changes in heart rate variability surrounding seizure events." — Clinical monitoring study
- "The patient reported consistent aura symptoms during the periictal period before generalized tonic-clonic seizures." — Epilepsy clinic note