title: Prolonged refractory status epilepticus following acute traumatic brain injury: a case report of excellent neurological recovery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be under-recognized and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case report describes a 20 year old previously healthy woman who suffered a severe TBI as a result of a motor vehicle collision and subsequently developed RSE. Pharmacological coma, physiological support and continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) were undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following 25 days of pharmacological coma, electrographic and clinical seizures subsided and the patient has made an excellent cognitive recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With early identification, aggressive physiological support, appropriate monitoring, including cEEG, and an adequate length of treatment, young trauma patients with no previous seizure history and limited structural damage to the brain can have excellent neurological recovery from prolonged RSE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. adpeets@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: Adam D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Peets
authors.forename: Luc R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Berthiaume
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bagshaw
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Doig
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zygun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000150:complications; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000293:injuries; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants