SIG│ SUDEP: Failure to Autoresuscitate

OVERVIEW:

This Special Interest Group highlights important topics that link the current knowledge of autoresuscitation, chemoresponsive brain regions, respiration, epilepsy and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). 

Why can people with epilepsy autoresuscitate or recover from past seizures, but fail to autoresuscitate from the terminal seizure that results in SUDEP? The autoresuscitation response to apnea fluctuates between rapid breathing and apnea to promote cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Autoresuscitation involves central chemoresponsive regions that sense changes in blood gases. Despite decades of research investigating central and peripheral chemoreception, how chemosensory brain regions interact to actuate an autoresuscitation response is not well understood.  

In this SIG, clinical and basic scientists (both from within and outside the field of epilepsy) come together to educate attendees on these key topics and share their research on chemosensation, respiration, and apnea in respect to SUDEP. The first portion of the workshop sets the stage for a rich discussion among panelists, following their presentations in the second portion. The discussion is prompted by a set of questions the moderators share with the panelists in advance and by audience questions or discussion points.