Electrographic seizure burden and outcomes following pediatric status epilepticus

• Published in: Epilepsy & behavior 2019-12, Vol.101 (Pt B), p.106409-106409, Article 106409
• Main Authors: Lalgudi Ganesan, Saptharishi, Hahn, Cecil D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child; Critical illness; Electroencephalography; Outcome; Seizures; Status epilepticus
• ISSN: 1525-5050; 1525-5069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.07.010

Pediatric status epilepticus carries a substantial risk for morbidity and mortality, but the relationship between seizure burden, treatment, and outcome remains incompletely understood. This review summarizes the evidence linking seizure burden and outcomes among critically ill children in the intensive care unit (ICU), a population in whom accurate quantification of seizure burden is possible using continuous electroencephalographic monitoring. Several high-quality observational studies among critically ill children have reported an association between higher seizure burden and worse outcome, even after adjusting for potential confounders such as age, etiology, and illness severity. Although these studies support the hypothesis that seizures contribute to brain injury and worsen outcome, a causal link between seizures and outcome remains to be proven. The relationship between seizures and outcome is likely complex, and dependent on factors such as etiology, preexisting neurological disability, medication exposure, and possibly individual genetic factors. Studies attempting to define this complex relationship will need to measure and account for these factors in their analyses. This article is part of the Special Issue "Proceedings of the 7th London-Innsbruck Colloquium on Status Epilepticus and Acute Seizures" •Higher seizure burden is associated with worse outcome in critically ill children.•This association remains after adjusting for seizure etiology and illness severity.•However, a causal link between seizures and outcome remains to be proven.•Proof of causality will require large randomized controlled trials or comparative effectiveness studies.