Status epilepticus - update on diagnosis and treatment
Keywords:
epilepsy, status epilepticusAbstract
Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological disorder, affecting approximately 1 in 150 people, and status epilepticus (SE) is sometimes described as the maximal expression of epilepsy, being associated with both short- and long-term significant mortality and morbidity. There are almost as many types of status as there are of the seizures. SE describes a unique pathological state, during which seizures tend to become self-perpetuating. The definition of SE shortened in the last years from 30 min in the guidelines of the Epilepsy Foundation of America’s Working Group on Status Epilepticus to 10 min in the VA Cooperative Trial, and recently in the operational definition of SE was shortened to 5 min, which reflects the need to find a definition of SE which will not delay therapeutic intervention. In this article we present current knowledge on diagnostics and treatment of SE and discuss possible therapeutic options, with emphasis on the role of new antiepileptic drugs.
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