Global Advanced Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences (GARJMMS) ISSN: 2315-5159
January 2017 Vol. 6(2), pp. 045-047
Copyright © 2017 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper  

The number of seizure episodes in patients presenting with refractory status epilepticus. Causes and modes of management

Omar Ayoub

Assistant Professor of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Building 10, second floor, department of medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital. P.O. Box 80215. Jeddah 21589

Email: dr_ayoub_o@yahoo.com; Phone number: +966541171145

Accepted 14 February, 2017 

Abstract

It is not well documented in the literature of the total number of status epilepticus (SE) episodes in patients presenting with the diagnosis of refractory status epilepticus (RSE) regardless of the cause. It is not well known of what is the right management protocol that should be initiated to control such repeated episodes. We retrospectively evaluated patients presenting with refractory status epilepticus to find out what is the frequency of seizure episodes at their admission. We also evaluated the management protocol at our center. All data were obtained in patients presenting between July 2014-July 2015. 121 status epilepticus episodes were documented in 29 patients who carry the diagnosis of refractory status epielpticus. More than half of the group was male, 17/29 (58.6%). The majority carried the diagnosis of vascular disorder as the cause of their refractory status epilepticus and the majority was started on levetiracetam as the first drug of choice. We document the high frequency of repeated episodes of seizures once the patient presents with refractory status epilepticus for the first time. The majority of those individuals had the diagnosis of vascular disorder as a cause for the seizures.

Keywords: Epilepticus, seizure, episodes in patients