A retrospective comparison of phenobarbital and levetiracetam for the treatment of seizures following cardiac surgery in neonates.

Phenobarbital was associated with more adverse events than levetiracetam, and the two drugs were equally but incompletely effective in treating electrographically confirmed seizures in neonates following cardiac surgery. Given its more acceptable safety profile and potential noninferiority, levetiracetam may be a reasonable option for first-line therapy for treatment of seizures in this population. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.