Prognostic factors of pentobarbital therapy for refractory generalized status epilepticus

• DOI: 10.1212/wnl.43.5.895
• Publication Date: 2012-05-13T13:07:54Z
• Authors: Kristine Yaffe; Daniel H. Lowenstein
• Keywords: Refractory (planetary science)

Pentobarbital coma (PBC) is a treatment for patients with refractory status epilepticus, but there are currently few guidelines choosing when to initiate or continue this therapy. To identify potential prognostic factors in setting, we reviewed the course of 17 adult treated standardized protocol PBC epilepticus over past 6 years. was extremely effective aborting seizures 16 patients, 11 developed severe hypotension that required therapy vasopressors. Six had full recoveries only minimal residual deficits following PBC, two neurologic deficits, and nine died. Survival associated history epilepsy, absence multiorgan failure before during age <40 years, requiring vasopressors PBC. Long-term follow-up seven eight survivors (mean, 2.9 years; range, 1 5 years) showed patients9 conditions remained stable after discharge from hospital. Thus, although controlling ongoing seizures, frequently leads significant hypotension. This side effect may be especially troublesome negative indicators identified study. These findings highlight need alternative approaches management these patients.