Medical management of status epilepticus: emergency room to intensive care unit

That status epilepticus (SE) requires emergency treatment has been embedded in practice for decades, and the 2015 ILAE definition [1] emphasises both the need for rapid initiation of treatment and the risk of permanent damage if seizures are not promptly controlled. There are however many types of SE, and it is recognized that outcome is also significantly influenced by seizure type and etiology, as well as the patient’s age and comorbidities. In this review we will focus on the management of early and established convulsive SE for which there is most evidence to guide practice, though management of other types of SE will also be briefly discussed.

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