Electrographic status epilepticus following cardiac surgery for congenital heart defects in children

Status epilepticus (SE) is a severe complication of cardiac surgery for cyanotic congenital heart defects in children. SE significantly worsens neurological prognosis and increases the likelihood of fatal outcomes. In most cases, epileptic seizures and status epilepticus in intensive care unit patients lack clinical manifestations and are detected exclusively through electroencephalography (EEG). In this study, we present a series of clinical observations demonstrating the transformation of SE from clinical to electrographic manifestations during anticonvulsant therapy in children with cyanotic congenital heart defects during the postoperative period. We emphasize the critical importance of EEG in managing SE in pediatric intensive care settings.