Status epilepticus

Status epilepticus is "prolonged seizure or seizures repeated frequently enough to prevent recovery between episodes occurring over a period of 20-30 minutes. The most common subtype is generalized tonic-clonic status epilepticus, a potentially fatal condition associated with neuronal injury and respiratory and metabolic dysfunction. Nonconvulsive forms include petit mal status and complex partial status, which may manifest as behavioral disturbances. Simple partial status epilepticus consists of persistent motor, sensory, or autonomic seizures that do not impair cognition (see also epilepsia partialis continua). Subclinical status epilepticus generally refers to seizures occurring in an unresponsive or comatose individual in the absence of overt signs of seizure activity."

Classification

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus

Petit mal status

Petit mal status may cause behavioral disturbances.

Complex partial status

Complex partial status may cause behavioral disturbances.

Simple partial status

Simple partial status does not impair cognition.

Subclinical status epilepticus

In subclinical status epilepticus the patient may be unresponsive or comatose and without overt signs of seizures.

See also

• Epilepsy