Does anaesthesia trigger seizures in cerebral palsied ?

[alexandrachioran]

My sister suffers from severe cerebral palsy (28 years old): she needs our help in performing all the routine activities (eating, getting dressed, etc)
She developed some dental problems ( the first two molars of the upper left side of the mouth have caries). In order to treat them, the dentist told us that she will be anaesthetised (general anaesthesia).
From what I've read, seizures are common among people with cerebral palsy. Despite this fact, my sister has never had a seizure. My concern is that undergoing general anaesthesia will trigger seizures.

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine your and obtain a history, I can definitively discuss with you her risks of general anesthesia but I will try to provide you with some useful information.

In general, there is a low risk of seizures related to general anesthesia, but this can occur for several reasons. The medications used to induce anesthesia in general do not trigger seizures in most people, but some medications have been implicated rarely. In patients with seizures on antiepileptics, not taking medications prior to surgery, or the effects of anesthetics on the seizure medications can also lead to seizures. The stresses of surgery could bring out seizures in someone with a predisposition to seizures. Patients with cerebral palsy may have a higher risk of seizures depending on their exact history and what the cause of their cerebral palsy is thought to be. However, in general, avoidance of general anesthesia is not necessary just because of a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, but discussion of specific risks with the neurologist, anesthesiologist, and taking what possible measures to avoid triggering of seizures (avoiding specific medications that are known to cause seizures, resting well prior to surgery as poor sleep lowers seizure threshold, avoiding alcohol withdrawal if there is a history of alcoholism, etc) can minimize the risk of surgery.

Discussion of your concerns with your sisters physicians is recommended.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[alexandrachioran]

How very kind of you to take the time and answer my question! Thank you ever so much! I am aware though that providing it must have been difficult due to the lack of data (medical history, complete diagnosis, so and and so forth). There's yet another matter in which I need an unbiased advice: is there a specific set of tests that we should pay attention to (prior to the surgery)? I suppose that certain parameters influence the way one's organism responds to anesthetic drugs.
Thank you in advance,
                          Alexandra