Status epilepticus - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Status epilepticus (SE) is a life-threatening neurologic condition defined as 5 or more minutes of either continuous seizure activity or repetitive seizures without regaining consciousness.
Generalized convulsive SE in both its subtle and overt subtypes constitutes the most frequent variant.
Diagnosis of nonconvulsive SE can be difficult, but recognition is crucial because rapid termination helps prevent serious brain injury, especially in patients with impaired consciousness.
In most cases, treatment must precede any thorough investigation and must be initiated as soon as SE is suspected.
Treatment involves a stepwise medication approach aimed at aborting the clinical and electrographic seizures.

Quick Reference

History & Exam
- Key Factors
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Diagnostics Tests
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Treatment Options
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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathophysiology

Citations

Key Articles

Brophy GM, Bell R, Claassen J, et al; Neurocritical Care Society Status Epilepticus Guideline Writing Committee. Guidelines for the evaluation and management of status epilepticus. Neurocrit Care. 2012 Aug;17(1):3-23.[Abstract]
Glauser T, Shinnar S, Gloss D. Evidence-based guideline: treatment of convulsive status epilepticus in children and adults: report of the Guideline Committee of the American Epilepsy Society. Epilepsy Curr. 2016 Jan-Feb;16(1):48-61.[Abstract][Full Text]
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK). Epilepsies in children, young people and adults. Apr 2022 [internet publication].[Full Text]

Referenced Articles

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56. Alkhachroum A, Der-Nigoghossian CA, Mathews E, et al. Ketamine to treat super-refractory status epilepticus. Neurology. 2020 Oct 20;95(16):e2286-94.[Abstract][Full Text]
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58. Thakur KT, Probasco JC, Hocker SE, et al. Ketogenic diet for adults in super-refractory status epilepticus. Neurology. 2014 Feb 25;82(8):665-70.[Abstract][Full Text]
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