[Use of intravenous midazolam in status epilepticus in children].
BACKGROUND
Status epilepticus is usually treated by benzodiazepines such as diazepam or clonazepam in association with phenytoin and phenobarbital. Midazolam (MDZ) is a recently developed short-elimination half-life benzodiazepine.


METHODS
Four children, aged 3 days to 4 years, were hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit for life-threatening illness and developed status epilepticus. They were given an i.v. bolus dose of 300 to 500 micrograms/kg of MDZ immediately followed by a continuous i.v. infusion at the dose of 100 to 300 micrograms/kg/h. All seizures stopped within 1 hour after the bolus dose administration. No acute adverse events of MDZ were noted. Withdrawal symptoms in one patient were controlled by progressive reduction of MDZ doses. Neurologic sequelae were noted in three children, secondary to their primitive illness.


CONCLUSIONS
High doses of MDZ are effective for treating refractory status epilepticus; optimal dosage and duration of treatment remains to be determined.
Lemerle
J
J
Unité de réanimation pédiatrique, hôpital Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Paris, France.
Daoud
P
P
Moutard
M L
ML
Desguerre
I
I
Rodriguez
D
D
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D008874:Midazolam
Utilisation du midazolam intraveineux dans l'état de mal convulsif de l'enfant.