Key result
Aggressive antiepileptic treatment for postanoxic status epilepticus arising during therapeutic hypothermia appears futile, as it is invariably associated with a fatal outcome.
Why the study?
Does aggressive antiepileptic treatment improve clinical outcome in patients surviving cardiac arrest with postanoxic status epilepticus?
Does aggressive antiepileptic treatment improve clinical outcome in patients surviving cardiac arrest with postanoxic status epilepticus?
Aggressive treatment of postanoxic status epilepticus arising during therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest is considered futile due to its invariable association with fatal outcomes.
Electrographic status epilepticus and myoclonus represent frequent findings in patients surviving cardiac arrest; both features have been related to poor clinical outcome. Recent data have outlined that status epilepticus appearing during therapeutic hypothermia and sedation is practically and invariably related to a fatal issue, as opposed to some patients presenting status epilepticus and/or myoclonus after return to normothermic conditions. Although it seems reasonable to give a chance of awakening to the latter patients by administering consequent antiepileptic treatment, especially if other favorable prognostic markers are observed, an aggressive treatment of status epilepticus arising during hypothermia seems futile in view of the existing evidence.
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Andrea O. Rossetti (2015) conducted an editorial in Postanoxic status epilepticus after cardiac arrest. Aggressive antiepileptic treatment (prolonged sedation) was evaluated. Aggressive antiepileptic treatment for postanoxic status epilepticus arising during therapeutic hypothermia appears futile, as it is invariably associated with a fatal outcome.
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