title: The ketogenic diet for medically and surgically refractory status epilepticus in the neurocritical care unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Refractory status epilepticus carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality despite, and at times as a result of, aggressive pharmacologic interventions. Dietary therapies have been used for almost a century in children for controlling medically refractory seizures and status epilepticus and recent studies suggest efficacy and safety in adults as well.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report and literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We describe a case of medically and surgically refractory status epilepticus that was controlled after initiation of the ketogenic diet and maintenance with the modified Atkins diet in an adult in the neurocritical care unit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary therapy should be considered as a treatment option in adult patients with refractory status epilepticus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 2-147, Baltimore, MD 21287-7247, USA. mcerven1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Mackenzie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cervenka
authors.forename: Adam L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venkatesan
authors.forename: Romergryko G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Geocadin
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kossoff
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D055423:Diet, Ketogenic; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004678:Encephalomalacia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D005911:Gliosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000178:diet therapy*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants