Abstracts

Rationale: RSE has a high mortality rate in children and adults. However, there are significant differences in the causes of mortality in infants and children. To review the etiology of mortality of children with RSE in a series of 64 children with RSE treated at BC Children s Hospital from Jan 1, 2005 to Dec 31, 2010 Methods: This was a retrospective review of a cohort of 64 children with refractory status epilepticus identified from the EEG database in BC Children s Hospital. RSE was defined as persistent seizures (convulsive or non-convulsive) unresponsive to benzodiazepines, Phenytoin and/or PhenobarbitalResults: The overall mortality was 16 patients (25%) aged between 10 months and 15 years of age. 9 patients were under the age of 2 years. The etiology of the RSE is described in Table 1. In the acute symptomatic group, 6 patients died; 5 patients during the hospitalization. In the remote symptomatic with acute precipitant group, 7 patients died; 1 patient during hospitalization, and 2 post-discharge (1-15 months after the RSE). One patient died in the remote symptomatic group after hospitalization. 2 patients died in the epileptic encephalopathy group, between 1 month and 1 year after the RSE. No deaths occurred in the refractory febrile status group. Mortality during the hospitalization occurred in 6 patients; 4 received midazolam infusion alone, one patient a combination of midazolam and propofol and one a thiopental infusion. All deaths were due to their underlying condition and comorbidities.Conclusions: In this series of patients RSE the mortality was due to either an acute symptomatic etiology or underlying condition. No mortality was attributed to the therapy of RSE