title: The significance of myoclonic status epilepticus in postanoxic coma.
abstract: We report 11 adults who exhibited myoclonic status epilepticus (MSE) after cardiac arrest. Based on pathologic, electroencephalographic, and clinical evidence, we conclude that our patients died from the initial anoxic-ischemic insult rather than as a result of MSE. We suggest that the seizures in these nonsurvivors were self-limited events arising from lethal damage to neurons. Thus, in patients with bilaterally synchronous facial myoclonus, bilateral loss of pupillary or oculovestibular reflexes, and suppression and burst-suppression on EEG, it is not warranted to use anesthetic barbiturates to treat MSE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Victoria Hospital, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Zochodne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged