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VOLUME 19 , ISSUE 5 ( 2015 ) > List of Articles

BRIEF COMMUNICATION

Complications during the management of pediatric refractory status epilepticus with benzodiazepine and pentobarbital infusions

Andre Raszynski, Balagangadhar R. Totapally, William Patten, Sayed Z. Naqvi

Keywords : Child, pediatric intensive care unit, status epilepticus, seizures

Citation Information : Raszynski A, Totapally BR, Patten W, Naqvi SZ. Complications during the management of pediatric refractory status epilepticus with benzodiazepine and pentobarbital infusions. Indian J Crit Care Med 2015; 19 (5):275-277.

DOI: 10.4103/0972-5229.156476

License: CC BY-ND 3.0

Published Online: 01-04-2016

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2015; The Author(s).


Abstract

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate complications in the management of refractory status epilepticus (RSE) treated with benzodiazepine and pentobarbital infusions. Of 28 children with RSE, eleven (39%) were treated with a pentobarbital infusion after failure to control RSE with a benzodiazepine infusion; while17 children (61%) required only a benzodiazepine infusion. The mean maximum pentobarbital infusion dosage was 5.2 ± 1.8 mg/kg/h. Twenty-five patients received a continuous midazolam infusion with an average dosage of 0.41 ± 0.43 mg/kg/h. The median length of stay was longer for the pentobarbital group. Children requiring pentobarbital therapy were more likely to develop hypotension, require inotropic support, need intubation, mechanical ventilation, peripheral nutrition, and blood products; furthermore, they were more likely to develop hypertension and movement disorder after or during weaning. In conclusion, children with RSE who required pentobarbital therapy had a longer hospital stay with more complications.


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