Evolution of Cerebral Atrophy in a Patient with Super Refractory Status Epilepticus Treated with Barbiturate Coma

Introduction. Status epilepticus is associated with neuronal breakdown. Radiological sequelae of status epilepticus include diffusion weighted abnormalities and T2/FLAIR cortical hyperintensities corresponding to the epileptogenic cortex. However, progressive generalized cerebral atrophy from status epilepticus is underrecognized and may be related to neuronal death. We present here a case of diffuse cerebral atrophy that developed during the course of super refractory status epilepticus management despite prolonged barbiturate coma. Methods. Case report and review of the literature. Case. A 19-year-old male with a prior history of epilepsy presented with focal clonic seizures. His seizures were refractory to multiple anticonvulsants and eventually required pentobarbital coma for 62 days and midazolam coma for 33 days. Serial brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed development of cerebral atrophy at 31 days after admission to our facility and progression of the atrophy at 136 days after admission. Conclusion. This case highlights the development and progression of generalized cerebral atrophy in super refractory status epilepticus. The cerebral atrophy was noticeable at 31 days after admission at our facility which emphasizes the urgency of definitive treatment in patients who present with super refractory status epilepticus. Further research into direct effects of therapeutic coma is warranted

Bilateral independent periodic discharges are associated with electrographic seizures and poor outcome: a case-control study

Objective: To identify clinical correlates of BIPDs, their association with seizures and their prognostic significance. Background: Bilateral independent periodic discharges (BIPDs) is an increasingly recognized EEG pattern in the critically ill but its clinical correlates, and association with electrographic seizures and outcome are uncertain. Design/Methods: A retrospective casecontrol study of patients with BIPDs compared to two control groups, one without periodic discharges (?No PDs?) and one with lateralized periodic discharges on only one side (?LPDs?), all matched for age, etiology and level of alertness. Univariate and multivariate statistics were applied. Results: 85 cases and 85 controls were included in each group. The most frequent etiologies of BIPDs were ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke (25%), CNS infections (10%), and anoxic brain injury (10%). 77 (91%) patients with BIPDs had stupor or coma, including 31% in coma. Electrographic seizures were more common in the BIPDs group than No PDs group (45% vs. 8%;

Bilateral independent periodic discharges are associated with electrographic seizures and poor outcome: A case-control study

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical correlates bilateral independent periodic discharges (BIPDs) and their association with electrographic seizures and outcome. METHODS: Retrospective case-control study of patients with BIPDs compared to patients without periodic discharges ( No PDs ) and patients with lateralized periodic discharges ( LPDs ), matched for age, etiology and level of alertness. RESULTS: We included 85 cases and 85 controls in each group. The most frequent etiologies of BIPDs were stroke, CNS infections, and anoxic brain injury. Acute bilateral cerebral injury was more common in the BIPDs group than in the No PDs and LPDs groups (70% vs. 37% vs. 35%). Electrographic seizures were more common with BIPDs than in the absence of PDs (45% vs. 8%), but not than with LPDs (52%). Mortality was higher in the BIPDs group (36%) than in the No PDs group (18%), with fewer patients with BIPDs achieving good outcome (moderate disability or better; 18% vs. 36%), but not than in the LPDs group (24% mortality, 26% good outcome). In multivariate analyses, BIPDs remained associated with mortality (OR: 3.0 [1.4-6.4]) and poor outcome (OR: 2.9 [1.4-6.2]). CONCLUSION: BIPDs are caused by bilateral acute brain injury and are associated with a high risk of electrographic seizures and of poor outcome. SIGNIFICANCE: BIPDs are uncommon but their identification in critically ill patients has potential important implications, both in terms of clinical management and prognostication

Bilateral independent periodic discharges are associated with electrographic seizures and poor outcome: A case-control study

Objective: To determine the clinical correlates bilateral independent periodic discharges (BIPDs) and their association with electrographic seizures and outcome. Methods: Retrospective case-control study of patients with BIPDs compared to patients without periodic discharges (“No PDs”) and patients with lateralized periodic discharges (“LPDs”), matched for age, etiology and level of alertness. Results: We included 85 cases and 85 controls in each group. The most frequent etiologies of BIPDs were stroke, CNS infections, and anoxic brain injury. Acute bilateral cerebral injury was more common in the BIPDs group than in the No PDs and LPDs groups (70% vs. 37% vs. 35%). Electrographic seizures were more common with BIPDs than in the absence of PDs (45% vs. 8%), but not than with LPDs (52%). Mortality was higher in the BIPDs group (36%) than in the No PDs group (18%), with fewer patients with BIPDs achieving good outcome (moderate disability or better; 18% vs. 36%), but not than in the LPDs group (24% mortality, 26% good outcome). In multivariate analyses, BIPDs remained associated with mortality (OR: 3.0 [1.4–6.4]) and poor outcome (OR: 2.9 [1.4–6.2]). Conclusion: BIPDs are caused by bilateral acute brain injury and are associated with a high risk of electrographic seizures and of poor outcome. Significance: BIPDs are uncommon but their identification in critically ill patients has potential important implications, both in terms of clinical management and prognostication.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe