Management of refractory status epilepticus at a tertiary care centre in a developing country.
BACKGROUND
Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is a common Neurological Emergency with increased mortality and morbidity in developing countries where facilities of intubation, adequate ventilation, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and general anaesthesia are not ubiquitously available. Treatment protocols use antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and need ICU facilities after failure of standard AEDs. Our aim was to see the response to two additional drugs in the armamentarium against refractory status, that is, valproate and levetiracetam.


METHODS
Patients with generalized RSE admitted in neurology and neurosurgery services at AIIMS during December 2006 to June 2008 were included in the study. The patients were allotted to two groups based on certain criteria. Demographic details, reason for delay, etiology precipitating status, ongoing AEDs therapy, duration of status, the time taken for cessation along with clinical, EEG and MRI correlates were noted. Outcome parameters were analyzed by an independent blinded observer.


RESULTS
82 patients with RSE were studied out of which 41 patients were given IV valproate (Group A) and 41 patients were given IV levetiracetam (Group B). Cessation of status failed in 13 patients in valproate group and 11 patients in levetiracetam group. Majority of the patients did not require ICU settings despite being classified as refractory.


CONCLUSIONS
RSE can be controlled with intravenous loading and maintenance of valproate or levetiracetam which do not cause respiratory depression, hypotension, need of intubation and ICU care. These must always be considered in a developing country scenario where ICU facilities are not always available or while transporting to centres where these facilities are available.
Tripathi
Manjari
M
Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India. manjari.tripathi@gmail.com
Vibha
Deepti
D
Choudhary
Navita
N
Prasad
Kameshwar
K
Srivastava
M V Padma
MV
Bhatia
Rohit
R
Chandra
Sarat P
SP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010889:Piracetam