title: Failure to recognize status epilepticus in a paralysed patient.
abstract: Paralysis induced by neuromuscular blocking agents facilitates ventilation of seriously ill patients but may preclude clinical recognition of seizures. We describe the occurrence of severe cognitive impairment in a 14-year-old girl in whom status epilepticus was recognized only when pancuronium was withdrawn after 14 hours of paralysis. This patient emphasizes a potential danger of paralysis from drugs in patients with acute cerebral dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Munn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Farrell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D009567:Nitrazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010243:Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D010672:Phenytoin; D009567:Nitrazepam; D003975:Diazepam