Redefining Status Epilepticus

Al-Mufti, F; Claassen, J (Oct 2014). "Neurocritical Care: Status Epilepticus Review." Critical care clinics 30 (4): 751–764.

Status epilepticus (SE) is an epileptic seizure of greater than five minutes or more than one seizure within a five minute period without the person returning to normal baseline between them.

Previous definitions used a 30-minute time limit which was reduced from one hour as few a 7 years ago. Currently SE is defined as one continuous, unremitting seizure lasting longer than five minutes, or recurrent seizures without regaining consciousness between seizures for greater than five minutes.

The seizures can either be of the tonic-clonic type with a regular pattern of contraction and extension of the arms and legs or of types that do not involve contractions such as absence seizures or complex partial seizures. Status epilepticus is a life-threatening condition particularly if treatment is delayed.

Between 10 to 30% of people who have status epilepticus are dead within 30 days.

Status epilepticus occurs in about 40 per 100,000 people per year making up about 1% of people who visit the emergency department (2% for emergency departments for children). In the United States, about 40 cases of SE occur annually per 100,000 people. This includes about 10-20% of all first seizures.

For information on the diagnosis and treatment of status epilepticus you can reveiw the most recent Guidelines from the Neurocritical Care Society. (Download here...)