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Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is a common neurologic emergency in childhood and one of the most common reasons for admission to the pediatric intensive care unit [1,2]. CSE is defined as a prolonged convulsive seizure or multiple seizures without return to the baseline level of functioning between seizures. The estimated incidence of pediatric CSE is 20 cases per 100,000 children per year with a mortality ranging from 0 to 11 % [3–14]. Mortality is higher (4-22%) with symptomatic than idiopathic etiologies and when seizures do not cease after administration of first-line anti-seizure medications and become refractory [15–17].