373.1 ð é«åžçç
373.1.1 Operational (ILAE 2015)
- Time 1 (t1): time at which treatment should begin
- Convulsive: 5 min
- Focal with impaired awareness: 10 min
- Absence: 10-15 min
- Time 2 (t2): time after which permanent injury likely
- Convulsive: 30 min
- Focal: 60 min
373.1.2 Practical Definition
- ⥠5 min seizure activity, OR
- ⥠2 seizures without recovery of consciousness in between
373.1.3 Categories
Convulsive SE (CSE): - GTC most common - May evolve to subtle CSE (only minor motor activity)
Non-Convulsive SE (NCSE): - Altered consciousness without prominent motor - Diagnosed on EEG - Often missed clinically - 8-37% of ICU comatose patients
Focal SE: - Without impaired awareness (e.g., epilepsia partialis continua) - With impaired awareness
373.1.4 Most Common
- Low ASM levels (subtherapeutic, missed doses) â # 1 in known epilepsy
- Withdrawal (alcohol, benzodiazepines)
- CNS infection (meningitis, encephalitis)
- Stroke (acute)
- Traumatic brain injury
- Metabolic: hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, uremia, hepatic encephalopathy
- Drug toxicity (cocaine, MDMA, theophylline, INH)
- Autoimmune encephalitis (NMDA-R, others)
- Hypoxic-ischemic (post-cardiac arrest)
- Brain tumor
373.1.5 Stage 1: Stabilization (0-5 min)
- ABCs: airway, breathing, circulation
- Position on side, protect from injury
- IV access
- Glucose check + dextrose if low (50 mL D50W) + thiamine 100 mg IV (before glucose if possible)
- Vital signs
- Labs: electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, glucose, ASM levels, toxicology, ABG
- Initial workup: identify precipitant
373.1.6 Stage 2: First-Line â Benzodiazepines (5-20 min)
- IV lorazepam 0.1 mg/kg (typical 4 mg) â preferred
- IV diazepam 0.15-0.2 mg/kg (10 mg) â quick onset, shorter duration
- IM midazolam 10 mg â if no IV (RAMPART trial)
- Buccal/intranasal midazolam â pediatric/out-of-hospital
- Rectal diazepam â alternative
May repeat once if no response.
373.1.7 Stage 3: Second-Line ASM (20-40 min)
ESETT trial (2019) â three options comparable, each ~ 50% effective: - IV levetiracetam 60 mg/kg (max 4500 mg) â preferred (fewer side effects) - IV fosphenytoin 20 mg PE/kg - IV valproate 40 mg/kg (max 3000 mg)
Other options: - IV phenobarbital (older, more sedating) - IV lacosamide (added in some protocols)
373.1.8 Stage 4: Refractory SE â Anesthesia (> 40 min)
- Intubate + ICU
- Continuous EEG monitoring
- Choose one:
- Midazolam infusion: 0.2 mg/kg load, 0.05-2 mg/kg/h
- Propofol infusion: 1-2 mg/kg load, 30-200 ÎŒg/kg/min (PRIS risk with high dose)
- Pentobarbital: 5-10 mg/kg load, 0.5-5 mg/kg/h
- Goal: seizure suppression or burst-suppression on EEG
- Continue 24-48 hr seizure free, then wean
373.1.9 Stage 5: Super-Refractory SE (> 24 hr)
- Persistent or recurrent despite anesthesia
- Add other ASMs
- Ketogenic diet
- Ketamine (NMDA antagonist)
- Hypothermia
- Immunotherapy if autoimmune suspected (IVIG, methylprednisolone, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, plasmapheresis)
- ECT (case reports)
- Vagus nerve stimulation
- Identify and treat underlying cause
373.1.10 Non-Convulsive SE (NCSE)
- Often missed
- Altered consciousness without obvious convulsions
- cEEG essential (8-37% of ICU comatose have NCSE)
- Treat similar to CSE but generally less aggressive (avoid anesthesia if just NCSE in well-tolerated patient)
373.1.11 Epilepsia Partialis Continua
- Continuous focal motor seizures
- Often Rasmussen encephalitis, MELAS, stroke
- Difficult to treat
- ASMs, immunotherapy if autoimmune
373.1.13 Anti-NMDA-R Encephalitis SE
- Young women, paraneoplastic (ovarian teratoma) or post-viral
- Psychiatric + seizures + movement + autonomic
- Look for tumor (CT/MRI chest, pelvis)
- Treatment: tumor removal + IVIG/steroids/rituximab/cyclophosphamide
373.1.14 Eclampsia
- Pregnancy + HTN + seizures
- Magnesium sulfate 4-6 g IV load + 1-2 g/h
- Delivery is definitive
373.1.14.0.1 Workup During SE
- Glucose, electrolytes, Ca, Mg
- ASM levels
- ABG (lactate often elevated)
- CBC, LFTs, renal
- Toxicology
- Pregnancy test
- ECG
- CT head urgent (rule out hemorrhage)
- MRI brain if no clear cause
- LP if meningitis suspected (after imaging)
- Specific antibody panels if autoimmune
- EEG (continuous)
373.1.14.0.2 Post-SE Care
- Identify underlying cause
- Optimize ASMs (long-term)
- Continuous EEG monitoring until stable
- Address complications:
- Rhabdomyolysis (CK + fluids)
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Hyperthermia
- Lactic acidosis
- Hyperkalemia
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Hypotension from sedatives
373.1.14.1 𩺠åºé鿥
- SE = ⥠5 min seizure OR ⥠2 without recovery
- Stage 1 (0-5 min): ABCs + glucose/thiamine + IV
- Stage 2 (5-20 min): BZD â IV lorazepam 4 mg or IM midazolam 10 mg
- Stage 3 (20-40 min): Levetiracetam, fosphenytoin, or valproate (ESETT 2019 comparable)
- Stage 4 (> 40 min): Anesthesia â midazolam, propofol, or pentobarbital + cEEG + intubate
- Stage 5 (> 24 hr super-refractory): combination + ketogenic + ketamine + immunotherapy
- Eclampsia: magnesium sulfate + delivery
- Anti-NMDA-R encephalitis: immunotherapy + tumor search
- NCSE common in ICU comatose â cEEG essential
- Mortality: 10-20% overall, refractory 30-50%