Status epilepticus = continuous or intermittent seizures for more than 5 minutes without recovery of consciousness (after 20 min – very high risk of irreversible neurologic damage)
Non-convulsive status epilepticus = abnormal mental state or confusion, with no overt seizure activity or subtle motor signs (twitching, blinking, eye deviation); usually diagnosed on EEG
Epilepsia partialis continua = focal tonico-clonic seizure with NORMAL alertness; can be mistaken for pseudoseizures
Complications of status epilepticus
– irreversible cerebral injury (mainly secondary to hypoxia)
– hyperthermia + DIC
– hypoglycaemia
– rhabdomyolysis + ARF
– profound lactic acidosis
– cardiac dysrhythmias, pulmonary oedema
– injuries – head / spine / limbs / other