Electrographic status epilepticus in children with critical illness: Epidemiology and outcome

Epilepsy Behav. 2015 Aug:49:223-7. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.03.007. Epub 2015 May 2.

Abstract

Electrographic seizures and electrographic status epilepticus are common in children with critical illness with acute encephalopathy, leading to increasing use of continuous EEG monitoring. Many children with electrographic status epilepticus have no associated clinical signs, so EEG monitoring is required for seizure identification. Further, there is increasing evidence that high seizure burdens, often classified as electrographic status epilepticus, are associated with worse outcomes. This review discusses the incidence of electrographic status epilepticus, risk factors for electrographic status epilepticus, and associations between electrographic status epilepticus and outcomes, and it summarizes recent guidelines and consensus statements addressing EEG monitoring in children with critical illness. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Status Epilepticus".

Keywords: EEG monitoring; Nonconvulsive seizure; Pediatric; Seizure; Status epilepticus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Critical Illness / therapy*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Humans
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Risk Factors
  • Status Epilepticus / complications
  • Status Epilepticus / epidemiology
  • Status Epilepticus / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome