Electroconvulsive therapy for refractory status epilepticus: a case series.
BACKGROUND
Status epilepticus refractory to conventional anti-epileptic drugs typically has a poor prognosis, but patients may recover well if seizures can be stopped. Case reports suggest that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may stop seizures in patients with refractory status epilepticus, and we sought to examine its effectiveness in a series of patients.


METHODS
Three consecutive patients with refractory status epilepticus at our institution were treated with ECT after other therapies had failed.


RESULTS
ECT stopped seizures in 2 of 3 patients. One patient had complete neurological recovery; the other was left with mild cognitive impairment and epilepsy, but returned to independent living.


CONCLUSIONS
ECT may be an effective therapy for refractory status epilepticus and warrants further study for this indication.
Kamel
Hooman
H
Department of Neurology, University of California, 505 Parnassus Ave, Box 0114, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. hooman.kamel@ucsf.edu
Cornes
Susannah Brock
SB
Hegde
Manu
M
Hall
Stephen E
SE
Josephson
S Andrew
SA
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012032:Refractory Period, Electrophysiological; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
D000927:Anticonvulsants