Treatment of status epilepticus: an international survey of experts

Neurocrit Care. 2013 Apr;18(2):193-200. doi: 10.1007/s12028-012-9790-1.

Abstract

Background: As part of the development of the Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) Status Epilepticus (SE) Guidelines, the NCS SE Writing Committee conducted an international survey of SE experts.

Methods: The survey consisted of three patient vignettes (case 1, an adult; case 2, an adolescent; case 3, a child) and questions regarding treatment. The questions for each case focused on initial and sequential therapy as well as when to use continuous intravenous (cIV) therapy and for what duration. Responses were obtained from 60/120 (50%) of those surveyed.

Results: This survey reveals that there is expert consensus for using intravenous lorazepam for the emergent (first-line) therapy of SE in children and adults. For urgent (second-line) therapy, the most common agents chosen were phenytoin/fosphenytoin, valproate sodium, and levetiracetam; these choices varied by the patient age in the case scenarios. Physicians who care for adult patients chose cIV therapy for RSE, especially midazolam and propofol, rather than a standard AED sooner than those who care for children; and in children, there is a reluctance to choose propofol. Pentobarbital was chosen later in the therapy for all ages.

Conclusion: There is close agreement between the recently published NCS guideline for SE and this survey of experts in the treatment of SE.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intravenous
  • Adult
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Consensus
  • Expert Testimony*
  • Humans
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / administration & dosage
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / therapeutic use*
  • Levetiracetam
  • Lorazepam / administration & dosage
  • Lorazepam / therapeutic use
  • Midazolam / therapeutic use
  • Pentobarbital / therapeutic use
  • Phenytoin / analogs & derivatives
  • Phenytoin / therapeutic use
  • Piracetam / analogs & derivatives
  • Piracetam / therapeutic use
  • Propofol / therapeutic use
  • Societies, Medical / standards*
  • Status Epilepticus / drug therapy
  • Status Epilepticus / therapy*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Valproic Acid / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Levetiracetam
  • Valproic Acid
  • Phenytoin
  • fosphenytoin
  • Pentobarbital
  • Lorazepam
  • Midazolam
  • Propofol
  • Piracetam