ECT in the treatment of status epilepticus

Electroconvulsive therapy for super refractory status epilepticus in pregnancy: case report and review of literature

OBJECTIVE

We aim to describe use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to treat super refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) in pregnancy and review the literature regarding utility and safety of ECT in refractory status epilepticus.

BACKGROUND

Status epilepticus (SE) is a commonly encountered emergency in neuro-critical care world. Pharmacotherapy of status epilepticus in pregnancy is very challenging given the effect of the majority of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on fetal development. Although there has been growing evidence for use of ECT in status epilepticus, data about its utility in pregnancy is lacking.

DESIGN/METHOD

A twenty-one year old Caucasian female with history of epilepsy presented at 8 weeks of gestation as status epilepticus (SE) after abrupt discontinuation of her AEDs. Treatment was initiated with standard regimen of benzodiazepine and levetiracetam, which was progressively expanded to include approximately 10 anti-epileptic drugs over the course of 30 days. The status epilepticus was super refractory to sedation. She underwent ECT on day 31 with remarkable improvement in electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern and resolution of status epilepticus following a single ECT session. We reviewed PubMed and collated case reports involving the use of ECT in status epilepticus with emphasis on differences in various confounding factors esp. etiology of status and age group.

CONCLUSION

Our case is the first reported case of ECT for successful treatment of SRSE in pregnancy. While majority AEDs pose a significant maternal and fetal risk during pregnancy, ECT could be a potential frontline therapy for SE in pregnancy.

Evaluating salvage electroconvulsive therapy for the treatment of prolonged super refractory status epilepticus: A case series

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Clinicians have treated super refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT); however, data supporting the practice are scant and lack rigorous evaluation of continuous electroencephalogram (cEEG) changes related to therapy. This study aims to describe a series of patients with SRSE treated at our institution with ECT and characterize cEEG changes using a blinded review process.

METHODS

We performed a single-center retrospective study of consecutive patients admitted for SRSE and treated with ECT from January 2014 to December 2022. Our primary outcome was the resolution of SRSE. Secondary outcomes included changes in ictal-interictal EEG patterns, anesthetic burden, treatment-associated adverse events, and changes in clinical examination. cEEG was reviewed pre- and post-ECT by blinded epileptologists.

RESULTS

Ten patients underwent treatment with ECT across 11 admissions (8 female, median age 57 years). At the time of ECT initiation, nine patients had ongoing SRSE while two had highly ictal patterns and persistent encephalopathy following anesthetic wean, consistent with late-stage SRSE. Super-refractory status epilepticus resolution occurred with a median time to cessation of 4 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 3-9 days) following ECT initiation. Background continuity improved in five patients and periodic discharge frequency decreased in six. There was a decrease in anesthetic use following the completion of ECT and an improvement in neurological exams. There were no associated adverse events.

DISCUSSION

In our cohort, ECT was associated with improvement of ictal-interictal patterns on EEG, and resolution of SRSE, and was not associated with serious adverse events. Further controlled studies are needed.

Tardive Seizures After Electroconvulsive Therapy

OBJECTIVES

Seizures that occur spontaneously after termination of an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) seizure are termed tardive seizures. They are thought to be a rare complication of ECT, influenced by risk factors that affect seizure threshold. However, there has been limited review of tardive seizures with modified ECT. We aimed to review the literature to provide clinical guidance for the use of ECT after tardive seizures.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases were searched from inception to May 2021 to identify cases of modified ECT, with evidence of a seizure occurring within 7 days of a terminated ECT seizure. Data for demographic, medical, pharmacological, anesthetic, and ECT variables as well as management strategies were collected.

RESULTS

There have been 39 episodes of modified ECT-related tardive seizures published over a period of 40 years. In 97.4% of cases, there was at least 1 identified potential risk factor for seizures, including use of a seizure-lowering medication and/or preexisting neurological injury. Major complications were uncommon (<15% of cases); however, 1 fetal death and 1 subsequent suicide were reported. No case was diagnosed with epilepsy, although around 20% continued on antiepileptic medications. More than half of the included patients were retrialed on ECT, with only 15% developing further tardive seizures.

CONCLUSIONS

Seizures that occurred spontaneously after the termination of an ECT seizure are a rare complication of modified ECT. Recommencing ECT after a tardive seizure may occur after review of modifiable seizure risk factors and with consideration of antiepileptic medication and extended post-ECT monitoring.

Neuromodulation in Super-refractory Status Epilepticus

SUMMARY

Status epilepticus (SE) is a severe condition that needs immediate pharmacological treatment to tackle brain damage and related side effects. In approximately 20% of cases, the standard treatment for SE does not control seizures, and the condition evolves to refractory SE. If refractory status epilepticus lasts more than 24 hours despite the use of anesthetic treatment, the condition is redefined as super-refractory SE (srSE). sRSE is a destructive condition, potentially to cause severe brain damage. In this review, we discuss the clinical neuromodulation techniques for controlling srSE when conventional treatments have failed: electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and deep brain stimulation. Data show that neuromodulation therapies can abort srSE in >80% of patients. However, no randomized, prospective, and controlled trials have been completed, and data are provided only by retrospective small case series and case reports with obvious inclination to publication bias. There is a need for further investigation into the use of neuromodulation techniques as an early treatment of srSE and to address whether an earlier intervention can prevent long-term complications.

The psychopharmacology of epilepsy

Epilepsy affects 1% of the world's population and is defined as two or more unprovoked seizures. Psychiatric conditions (depression, psychosis, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)) may coexist and are linked to negative seizure outcomes and poorer quality of life. There is an increasing body of evidence to suggest a bidirectional relationship between epilepsy and psychiatric disorders, which may imply shared pathophysiologic mechanisms. Extensive research has examined neurobiologic and neuroanatomic substrates for this association revealing some interesting similarities. Psychiatric disorders in people with epilepsy often go underdiagnosed and undertreated, due to fears of exacerbating psychiatric symptoms or provoking seizures, which may cause delays in optimal management. This chapter covers psychiatric conditions in epilepsy largely focusing on depressive disorders and psychotic disorders. Anxiety and ADHD in association with epilepsy are also discussed. Epidemiology, pathophysiologic mechanisms, and pharmacotherapies used to treat epilepsy and psychiatric disorders are also covered.

Neurostimulation Therapies

Depression is one of the most disabling conditions in the world. In many cases patients continue to suffer with depressive disorders despite a series of adequate trials of medication and psychotherapy. Neuromodulation treatments offer a qualitatively different modality of treatment that can frequently prove efficacious in these treatment-refractory patients. The field of neuromodulation focuses on the use of electrical/electromagnetic energy, both invasively and noninvasively, to interface with and ultimately alter activity within the human brain for therapeutic purposes. These treatments provide another set of options to offer patients when clinically indicated, and knowledge of their safety, risks and benefits, and appropriate clinical application is essential for modern psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. Although neuromodulation techniques hold tremendous promise, only three such treatments are currently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of major depressive disorder: electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Additionally, numerous other neurostimulation modalities (deep brain stimulation [DBS], magnetic seizure therapy [MST], transcranial electric stimulation [tES], and trigeminal nerve stimulation [TNS]), though currently experimental, show considerable therapeutic promise. Researchers are actively looking for ways to optimize outcomes and clinical benefits by making neuromodulation treatments safer, more efficacious, and more durable.

Neurostimulation for depression in epilepsy

Epilepsy is often associated with comorbid psychiatric illnesses that can significantly impact its long-term course. The most frequent of these psychiatric comorbidities is major depressive disorder, which affects an estimated 40% of patients with epilepsy. Many patients are underdiagnosed or undertreated, yet managing their mood symptoms is critical to improving their outcomes. When conventional psychiatric treatments fail in the management of depression, neuromodulation techniques may offer promise, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), as discussed in this review. "This article is part of the Supplement issue Neurostimulation for Epilepsy."

Electroconvulsive Therapy for Super Refractory Status Epilepticus

OBJECTIVES

Super refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) is a stage beyond refractory status that requires general anesthesia as management. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is recommended only as a potential treatment option beyond general anesthesia and after all other options have been exhausted. Its effect on aborting status has been minimally researched. We present the largest case series to our knowledge exploring the effect of ECT on SRSE.

METHODS

Eight adults hospitalized for SRSE received ECT in an attempt to abort status after other treatment modalities were exhausted. Electroconvulsive therapy consisted of a 504-mC (≈99.4 J) stimulus delivered bifrontotemporally with a constant 0.5-millisecond pulse width. Seizure activity during ECT was monitored visually and correlated to the single-channel recording provided by the apparatus.

RESULTS

There was neurotelemetry or clinical evidence of improvement within 24 hours after the full course of ECT treatment in 5 (63%) of the 8 cases. Cases that improved were given an average of 7.8 total ECT stimulations, eliciting an average of 4.2 total seizures.

CONCLUSIONS

Although it is difficult to determine the exact role of ECT in the improvement of 63% of our cases, we present a series of patients for whom pharmacotherapy, ketogenic diet, and general anesthesia otherwise did not produce an appreciable effect on status prior to implementation of ECT. These findings suggest that cases of SRSE may benefit from ECT administration.

Pregnancy and Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Multidisciplinary Approach

OBJECTIVE

To scrutinize a series of pregnant women treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at a tertiary treatment center and combine these data with a literature review to refine the treatment guidelines for ECT during pregnancy.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of mentally ill pregnant patients treated with ECT since the establishment of a formal women's mental health program.

RESULTS

A total of 8 pregnant women treated with ECT were identified from January 2012 to August 2014. Information was extracted from the medical records of a total of 30 ECT treatments across this group. Subjects received an average of 3.75 ECT treatments (range, 1-7). All women were diagnosed as having a mood disorder (either unipolar or bipolar), and 5 of the 8 women had suicidal ideation. The treatment team for ECT was consistent across all treatments. Two women experienced significant complications after the initial treatment: 1) an acute episode of complete heart block; and 2) acute onset of mania after ECT. Obstetrical complications included 2 women with preterm delivery-one secondary to premature rupture of membranes. No other complications or adverse outcomes were recorded. The 5 women with suicidal ideation had symptom resolution, and significant symptom improvement was noted in 6 of the 8 women.

CONCLUSIONS

Electroconvulsive therapy is a safe and effective treatment during pregnancy and of particular benefit in the acute treatment of suicidal ideation.

A Case of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis Treated with ECT

We describe the case of a 17-year-old male who presented with acute onset of seizures and malignant catatonia with psychosis, agitation, and hypermetabolism, who responded to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Soon after he began to respond, he was diagnosed with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis and then given immunosuppressive therapy. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is an increasingly recognized autoimmune disorder that often presents with neuropsychiatric symptoms. The mainstays for treatment have been early diagnosis, tumor work-up and removal if found, and initiation of immunosuppressive therapy. Treatment response is often slow and residual symptoms common. In this case, ECT produced clinical stabilization before the underlying diagnosis of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis was made and standard treatment initiated. We suggest that ECT may be highly beneficial for stabilizing life-threatening neuropsychiatric symptoms in this syndrome and should be considered as a potentially additive treatment to immunotherapy when rapid relief is sought.

Effects of ECT in treatment of depression: study protocol for a prospective neuroradiological study of acute and longitudinal effects on brain structure and function

BACKGROUND

Major depression can be a serious and debilitating condition. For some patients in a treatment resistant depressive episode, electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) is the only treatment that is effective. Although ECT has shown efficacy in randomized controlled trials, the treatment is still controversial and stigmatized. This can in part be attributed to our lack of knowledge of the mechanisms of action. Some reports also suggest potential harmful effects of ECT treatment and memory related side effects have been documented.

METHODS/DESIGN

The present study will apply state of the art radiology through advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to investigate structural and functional brain effects of ECT. As a multi-disciplinary collaboration, imaging findings will be correlated to psychiatric response parameters, neuropsychological functioning as well as neurochemical and genetic biomarkers that can elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The aim is to document both treatment effects and potential harmful effects of ECT.

SAMPLE

n = 40 patients in a major depressive episode (bipolar and major depressive disorder). Two control groups with n = 15 in each group: age and gender matched healthy volunteers not receiving ECT and patients undergoing electrical cardioversion (ECV) for atrial fibrillation (AF). Observation time: six months.

DISCUSSION

The study will contribute to our understanding of the pathophysiology of major depression as well as mechanisms of action for the most effective treatment for the disorder; ECT.

Surgical treatment of refractory status epilepticus in children: clinical article

OBJECT

Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is a life-threatening neurological emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. Affected patients often require prolonged intensive care and can suffer multiple complications. Surgical intervention to control RSE is rarely used but can obviate the risks of prolonged seizures and intensive care treatment. Authors of the present study analyzed their experience with the surgical management of patients suffering from RSE.

METHODS

The Epilepsy Surgery Database at Miami Children's Hospital was reviewed for patients who had undergone surgery for RSE. Clinical presentation, electrophysiological profile, radiological data, surgical details, and postoperative course were evaluated.

RESULTS

Between 1990 and 2012, 15 patients underwent surgery for uncontrolled seizures despite high-dose medical suppressive therapy. The mean preoperative duration of status epilepticus was 8 weeks. Ictal SPECT and FDG-PET imaging in conjunction with intraoperative electrophysiological studies helped to outline the extent of resection. Surgical intervention controlled seizures in all patients and facilitated the transition out of intensive care. Adverse events related to a prolonged intensive care unit stay included sepsis and respiratory complications. Four patients had worsened neurological function, developing hemiparesis and dysphasia. There was no operative mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical intervention can successfully control refractory partial status epilepticus, prevent associated morbidity, and decrease intensive care unit stay. Ictal SPECT and PET are valuable in guiding resection.

The effects of responsive and scheduled subicular high frequency stimulation in the intra-hippocampal kainic acid seizure model

BACKGROUND

Responsive stimulation is a promising and newly emerging treatment for refractory temporal lobe epilepsy in which current is delivered to target areas following seizure occurrence.

OBJECTIVE

We compared responsive and scheduled subicular high frequency stimulation (HFS) with a sham control group on acute seizures and seizure sensitivity two weeks later. We also investigated the role of status epilepticus (SE) on efficacy of both types of stimulation.

METHOD

Adult Wistar rats received kainic acid (KA) injections intrahippocampally until they reached Stage V (Racine scale) on Day 1. Responsive, scheduled or sham HFS (125 Hz, 100 μs) was delivered in three groups while EEG was recorded. All rats received KA injections again on Day 15 to measure the excitability of animals to KA, again with EEG monitoring.

RESULTS

All rats reached Stage V and 60% reached SE on Day 1. Focal seizures were suppressed in both stimulated groups (the scheduled group was slightly more effective) on both days in only non-SE rats. Similar stimulation effects were found on generalized seizures but mainly on Day 15.

CONCLUSION

Both types of subicular HFS suppressed focal and generalized seizures, albeit differently. Scheduled stimulation seemed a bit more effective, and the amount of stimulation might be a factor that influences the differences between the stimulated groups. Beneficial effects of HFS were restricted to non-SE rats and HFS did not suppress or even worsen seizures in SE rats.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation for refractory focal status epilepticus in the intensive care unit

PURPOSE

To examine the efficacy and safety profile of antiepileptic repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for refractory status epilepticus (RSE) in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. In addition, hypothetical concerns about electrical interference of rTMS with ICU equipment have been previously raised.

METHODS

We describe two cases of RSE treated with rTMS in the ICU.

RESULTS

In one case, rTMS contributed to decreased seizure frequency; in the second case, rTMS transiently decreased seizure frequency. In both cases, rTMS was safe and did not interfere with the functioning of the ICU equipment.

CONCLUSION

rTMS is a potential therapy for RSE when conventional therapies have failed. Future studies should investigate the efficacy of various rTMS stimulation parameters, safety issues, and bioengineering considerations in the ICU setting.

Refractory status epilepticus: new insights in presentation, treatment, and outcome

Refractory status epilepticus (RSE), defined as status epilepticus that fails to respond to the acute administration of two antiepileptic medications, occurs in approximately a third of patients with status epilepticus, and is associated with increased hospital length of stay, mortality, and functional disability. Common presentations include: (1) generalized convulsive status epilepticus or complex partial status epilepticus that continue despite initial therapies; (2) stupor or coma following a generalized convulsive or complex partial seizure; or (3) stupor or coma following brain surgery or acute brain injury. When status epilepticus continues or recurs 24 hours or more after the initiation of anesthetic therapy, or recurs on the reduction or withdrawal of anesthesia, it is termed super RSE. Published evidence on optimal management of RSE consists largely of case reports or small series. The mainstay of treatment is the administration of anesthetic agents titrated to electrographic seizure control. Adjunctive therapies include hypothermia and immunosuppression and less commonly, surgery, electrical stimulation therapies, and induction of ketosis. Patients with cardiopulmonary complications and prolonged duration of drug-induced coma tend to have worse post-treatment functional outcomes. However, significant improvement over time can occur in survivors, and thus treatment is justified even in patients who require prolonged anesthetic coma. The strongest predictors of outcome are duration of anesthetic coma, etiology, and development of cardiopulmonary complications.

Status epilepticus: a review, with emphasis on refractory cases

Status epilepticus is among the most dramatic of clinical presentations encountered by emergency room physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons and intensivists. While progress in its management has been aided significantly with an increasing number of effective treatment options, improved diagnostic methods and more effective monitoring, poor outcomes and diagnostic failures are still frequently encountered. Refractory cases still carry significant morbidity and mortality rates, including poor cognitive outcomes. This review discusses basic pathophysiology and management of status epilepticus, neuroimaging findings, the role of continuous electroencephalogram monitoring and nonconvulsive status epilepticusas well as recent developments in treatment options for refractory cases.

The potential of brain stimulation in status epilepticus

There is a long history of the use of brain stimulation in the treatment of epilepsy but relatively little experience for its use in status epilepticus. Electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, subcortical and cortical stimulation have all been tried with varying degrees of success in single cases or small case series. It remains unclear, however, which brain areas should be stimulated and the parameters that should be used. Moreover, the aim (stopping status epilepticus) is different from preventing seizures and so the brain areas and parameters that are useful in epilepsy may not directly translate to the treatment of status epilepticus.

Exceptionally high initial seizure threshold in a catatonic patient treated with electroconvulsive therapy

OBJECTIVES

Seizure threshold in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is generally defined as the smallest electrical stimulus dose that produces a generalized seizure of at least 25 to 30 seconds on electroencephalography. Seizure thresholds vary considerably among patients, and some patients have an exceptionally high initial seizure threshold. We describe a patient with catatonia who showed an initial seizure threshold exceeding 500 milliCoulombs. The literature was searched for other reports on this phenomenon.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted using MedLine from 1966 to January 2008 and PsychINFO (2007), cross-referencing ECT and (excessively high) seizure threshold, as well as standard works on ECT. The literature was scrutinized for reports on high initial seizure threshold and associated demographic and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

Besides our patient, 6 articles were found reporting on 9 severely depressed, mostly elderly patients (aged 45-85 years; 5 males, 2 females; 2 persons with unknown sex) with excessive initial seizure thresholds ranging from 335 to 896 milliCoulombs (mC), and most with cardiovascular compromise. Strategies to lower seizure thresholds in ECT included manipulation of stimulus parameters, adjustment of anesthetics, and augmentation with proconvulsant agents.

CONCLUSIONS

Because reports on exceptionally high initial seizure thresholds in ECT are rare, no definite conclusions can be drawn regarding its possible risk factors and management. However, since high initial seizure thresholds can complicate ECT, it is clinically important to further investigate this phenomenon.

Uncommon but serious complications associated with electroconvulsive therapy: recognition and management for the clinician

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for severe mood disorders. Rarely there can be serious complications, such as postictal agitation, cardiovascular compromise, prolonged seizures, and status epilepticus, all of which are important for the clinician to recognize and treat. Postictal agitation can be severe, requiring emergent intervention and subsequent prophylactic measures to avoid premature ECT discontinuation. Cardiovascular responses to ECT include significant hemodynamic changes that may result in complications, even in patients without preexisting cardiovascular conditions. However, preexisting cardiovascular conditions per se are not contraindications to ECT in patients with disabling psychiatric disease. Recognizing and treating prolonged seizures is essential to prevent progression to status epilepticus. Failure to recognize and treat any of these events may result in increased mortality and morbidity. Understanding such complications and their management strategies avoids unnecessary treatment discontinuation due to manageable ECT complications.

Electroconvulsive therapy for bipolar depressive and mixed episode with high suicide risk after epilepsy surgery

Mood disturbance is a common comorbid condition of temporal lobe epilepsy before and after surgery. Suicide is more frequent in patients with epilepsy than in the general population. As suicide is a major issue in both epileptic and depressive patients, it is critical to treat aggressively any psychiatric illness with suicidal ideation. We describe two patients who, after temporal lobe surgery, developed a serious bipolar disorder that necessitated electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), despite better seizure control. Unfortunately they were not able to commit to a regular treatment plan with their psychiatrists to prevent a suicide. These patients underwent a course of ECT treatments. After the ECT regimen, acute suicidal intent remitted and was replaced by chronic suicidal ideation without active intent or plan. The patients were then able to commit to a treatment plan regarding their medications and control visits. These cases represent the safe utilization of ECT as a rapid and effective treatment option for bipolar disorder with suicide ideation following epilepsy surgery. Patients and parents should be advised about possible psychiatric disturbances and suicide risk after epilepsy surgery, especially in the presence of a temporal lobe epilepsy, even when seizure control is achieved postoperatively.

Treatment of refractory status epilepticus: literature review and a proposed protocol

Refractory status epilepticus describes continuing seizures despite adequate initial pharmacologic treatment. This situation is common in children, but few data are available to guide management. We review the literature related to the pharmacologic treatment and overall management of refractory status epilepticus, including midazolam, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, propofol, inhaled anesthetics, ketamine, valproic acid, topiramate, levetiracetam, pyridoxine, corticosteroids, the ketogenic diet, and electroconvulsive therapy. Based on the available data, we present a sample treatment algorithm that emphasizes the need for rapid therapeutic intervention, employs consecutive medications with different mechanisms of action, and attempts to minimize the risk of hypotension. The initial steps suggest using benzodiazepines and phenytoin. Second steps suggest using levetiracetam or valproic acid, which exert few hemodynamic adverse effects and have multiple mechanisms of action. Additional management strategies that could be employed in tertiary-care settings, such as coma induction guided by continuous electroencephalogram monitoring and surgical options, are also discussed.

Treatment of status epilepticus with electroconvulsive therapy

OBJECTIVE

To describe a case in which electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was used successfully to treat refractory status epilepticus (SE) after all pharmacological therapies were exhausted.

METHODS

A 39-year-old man with no seizure history presented in SE secondary to presumed viral encephalitis. His seizures remained refractory to medical management, and he was placed in a pentobarbital-induced coma. Multiple attempts to wean pentobarbital over the next several months failed due to SE relapses. With all standard pharmacological therapies exhausted, the patient underwent a series of 3 ECT sessions per day for 3 consecutive days. Electroencephalogram improvements were noted immediately with diffusely slow activity and with a delayed response over time in the patient's neurological examination. Twelve months post-ECT, the patient is awake, alert, and being managed on antiepileptic medications as outpatient.

DISCUSSION

This case further illustrates the role of ECT in the treatment of refractory SE.

How Long Do Most Seizures Last? A Systematic Comparison of Seizures Recorded in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit

PURPOSE

More information is needed regarding how long seizures typically last, since this influences treatment decisions. Seizure type and other factors could influence seizure duration.

METHODS

Data were collected from a random sample of patients being evaluated with continuous video and scalp EEG. Seizure duration was defined as time from early sign of seizure (clinical or EEG) until the end of seizure on EEG. Seizures were categorized as simple partial (SPS), complex partial (CPS), secondarily generalized tonic-clonic (SGTCS), primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTCS) and tonic (TS). SGTCS were divided into a complex partial part (SGTCS/CP) and a tonic-clonic part (SGTCS/TC). Median and longest duration of each seizure type in each individual were used. Comparisons of seizure types, first and last seizure, area of onset, and state of onset were performed.

RESULTS

Five hundred seventy-nine seizures were recorded in 159 adult patients. Seizures with partial onset spreading to both hemispheres had the longest duration. SGTCS were unlikely to last more than 660 s, CPS more than 600 s, and SPS more than 240 s. PGTCS and TS had shorter durations, but the number of subjects with those two types was small. CPS did not differ in duration according to sleep state at onset nor side of origin.

CONCLUSION

A working definition of status epilepticus in adults with cryptogenic or symptomatic epilepsy can be drawn from these data for purposes of future epidemiologic research. More information is needed for the idiopathic epilepsies and in children.

Electroconvulsive therapy in patients with epilepsy

There are scant published data to guide the clinician about safe and effective use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in epileptic patients who suffer from psychiatric disorders. In this report, we describe our experience treating 43 epileptic patients with ECT. Seven of the patients may have had spontaneous seizures during the course of treatments, although the possibility of pseudoseizures or nonictal phenomena seemed quite likely in several of these cases. For the majority of patients, adequate seizures could be obtained during ECT despite concomitant treatment with antiepileptic medications, although dose reductions were required in a few cases. Most patients enjoyed moderate to marked reductions in psychiatric symptoms with ECT, and one patient seemed to have a marked reduction in spontaneous seizure frequency for several weeks after completion of the ECT course. We conclude that most epileptic patients can be treated with ECT without dose adjustment in antiepileptic medications and provide general recommendations for safe use of ECT in this population.

[Refractory status epilepticus: diagnosis, therapy, course, and prognosis]

Status epilepticus (SE) is a frequent neurological emergency with an annual incidence of 10-20/100,000 individuals. The overall mortality is about 10-20%. Patients present with long-lasting fits or series of epileptic seizures or extended stupor and coma. Furthermore, patients with SE can suffer from a number of systemic complications possibly also due to side effects of the medical treatment. In the beginning, standardized treatment algorithms can successfully stop most SE. A minority of SE cases prove however to be refractory against the initial treatment and require intensified pharmacologic intervention with nonsedating anticonvulsive drugs or anesthetics. In some partial SE, nonpharmacological approaches (e.g., epilepsy surgery) have been used successfully. This paper reviews scientific evidence of the diagnostic approach, therapeutic options, and course of refractory SE, including nonpharmacological treatment.

VNS therapy in treatment-resistant depression: clinical evidence and putative neurobiological mechanisms

Currently available therapeutic interventions for treatment-resistant depression, including switch, combination, and augmentation strategies, are less than ideal. Observations of mood elevation during vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy for pharmacoresistant epilepsy suggested a role for VNS therapy in refractory major depression and prompted clinical investigation of this neurostimulation modality. The VNS Therapy System has been available for treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsy since 1997 and was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment-resistant depression in July, 2005. The physiology of the vagus nerve, mechanics of the VNS Therapy System, and efficacy and safety in pharmacoresistant epilepsy are reviewed. Promising results of VNS therapy for treatment-resistant depression have been forthcoming from both acute and long-term studies, evidenced in part by progressive improvements in depression rating scale scores during the 1st year of treatment with maintenance of response thereafter. VNS therapy is well tolerated in patients with either pharmacoresistant epilepsy or treatment-resistant depression. As in epilepsy, the mechanisms of VNS therapy of treatment-resistant depression are incompletely understood. However, evidence from neuroimaging and other studies suggests that VNS therapy acts via innervation of the nucleus tractus solitarius, with secondary projections to limbic and cortical structures that are involved in mood regulation, including brainstem regions that contain serotonergic (raphe nucleus) and noradrenergic (locus ceruleus) perikarya that project to the forebrain. Mechanisms that mediate the beneficial effects of VNS therapy for treatment-resistant depression remain obscure. Suggestions for future research directions are described.

Seizure heralding functional recovery in a patient with apallic syndrome: A case report with retrospective-prospective observation

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that there exists a close relationship between seizure discharges and functional recovery from brain injury, and that paroxysmal bombardment in late seizures may herald functional recovery or may "kick-start" recovery.

CASE REPORT

We report the case of a 52-year-old patient who, following a subarachnoid hemorrhage and multiple surgeries, experienced discernible apallic syndrome of long duration. His hospitalization is well documented. The patient underwent protracted, intense rehabilitation, but he remained in this prolonged state of loss of consciousness and behavioral passivity until he experienced a series of periodic seizures. Widespread improvement in his cognitive and functional abilities coincided closely with the seizure activity. The literature on this topic is reviewed.

CONCLUSION

This case confirms the close relationship between seizure discharges and functional recovery reported in preclinical literature.

Tratamiento electroconvulsivo en niños y adolescentes

It is well-known that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment for some mental disorders in adults. However, its use in children and adolescents is still the cause of some fears which may not be justified. The aim of this article is to clarify and to present the state of this question by reviewing the literature about ECT in children and adolescents, with emphasis on efficacy, indications, adverse effects and limitations. Results from studies in this population group show similar safety and efficacy data as those observed in adults. There exists a misinformation about the ECT technique among child psychologists and psychiatrists. Large follow-up studies are needed.

[Electric brain stimulation for epilepsy therapy]

Attempts to control epileptic seizures by electrical brain stimulation have been performed for 50 years. Many different stimulation targets and methods have been investigated. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is now approved for the treatment of refractory epilepsies by several governmental authorities in Europe and North America. However, it is mainly used as a palliative method when patients do not respond to medical treatment and epilepsy surgery is not possible. Numerous studies of the effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on epileptic seizures have been performed and almost invariably report remarkable success. However, a limited number of controlled studies failed to show a significant effect. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) also was effective in open studies, and controlled studies are now being carried out. In addition, several uncontrolled reports describe successful treatment of refractory status epilepticus with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In summary, with the targets and stimulation parameters investigated so far, the effects of electrical brain stimulation on seizure frequency have been moderate at best. In the animal laboratory, we are now testing high-intensity, low-frequency stimulation of white matter tracts directly connected to the epileptogenic zone (e.g., fornix, corpus callosum) as a new methodology to increase the efficacy of DBS ("overdrive method").

Status epilepticus: a review of different syndromes, their current evaluation, and treatment

BACKGROUND

Status epilepticus (SE) encompasses a wide range of seizure types with different clinical presentations, pathophysiologies, treatment imperatives, and outcomes. The most dramatic and life-threatening form, generalized convulsive status epilepticus, has been reviewed in all of these aspects, but other less common types of SE have been described less extensively.

REVIEW SUMMARY

Definitions of generalized convulsive SE and its pathophysiology are reviewed briefly. Defining SE by a specific duration of seizures is controversial and has implications for studies and for clinical management. Several types of SE are different in their causes, presentations, and outcomes. Many are underdiagnosed. This article focuses on the pharmacology and clinical studies of several anticonvulsant medications used to treat SE. A protocol approach is not detailed. Rather, the clinical evaluation begins with meticulous diagnosis of the type of SE. Establishing the SE syndrome diagnosis and use of anticonvulsants with demonstrated effectiveness facilitate an appropriate treatment plan for individual patients. Recent developments in the basic science of SE raise the possibility of better treatments in the future.

CONCLUSIONS

As there are many types of seizures, there are also many types of SE. Each has unique presentations and treatment considerations. Review of actual clinical data from SE treatment studies should be helpful in devising the best treatment for an individual patient.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus in an Intensive Care Unit Setting

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) in adults is a heterogeneous epileptic emergency and includes absence status (AS), complex-partial status epilepticus (CPSE), and the status epilepticus of epileptic encephalopathy (SEEE). The latter seems to be strikingly frequent among patients in intensive care units (ICU). Diagnosis of NCSE is difficult, but has to be made quickly. It relies on clinical signs and a confirmation electroencephalography (EEG). According to the different etiologies and outcomes of AS, CPSE, and SEEE, treatment has to be individually adapted, but needs to follow some basic principles--treatment should take place in the ICU and be monitored by continuous EEG. With a few exceptions, the first drug is an intravenous benzodiazepine, mainly lorazepam. Intravenous fosphenytoin or phenytoin or valproate may follow next. If some forms of NCSE are resistant to first- and second-line treatments, single or combinations of anesthetics and enteral antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may be added. This opinion is not evidence-based, and randomized controlled prospective trials to evaluate optimal treatment of NCSE are of first priority.

Successful neurosurgical treatment of childhood complex partial status epilepticus with focal resection

The treatment of complex partial status epilepticus continues to be controversial, especially with regard to the intensity of the treatment. Medical therapy and drug-induced coma are sometimes required. Rarely this may not be effective. A healthy 4-year old girl was first seen in complex partial status epilepticus. She had a 1-year history of cryptogenic partial-onset seizures. Detailed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were normal. Her course was refractory to multiple medical therapies and multiple subpial transection (MST). An urgent epilepsy surgery evaluation resulted in a focal cortical resection being performed over the right mesial parietal region with resultant seizure freedom and no significant neurologic deficit 2 years later. This patient illustrates the need to consider occult focal cortical dysplasia as a cause of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) in children, and if it is not responsive to medical management, the utility of performing an urgent epilepsy surgery evaluation.

ECS seizure threshold: normal variations, and kindling effects of subconvulsive stimuli

BACKGROUND

The efficacy and adverse effects of electroconvulsive therapy are generally believed to depend upon the extent to which an administered stimulus is suprathreshold. The seizure threshold is therefore an important biologic marker. We sought to examine the variability of the electroconvulsive shock (ECS) seizure threshold in rats, and to identify factors influencing the threshold, to guide future research using animal models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We administered once-daily subconvulsive stimuli to Wistar rats beginning at a charge of either 1 mC (n = 25) or 5 mC (n = 25) and titrated the dose upward in 1-mC steps until the baseline seizure threshold was identified. Two weeks later, we divided each group into two subgroups and administered stimuli that were either at or 2 mC below the baseline threshold, and titrated the dose upward, again in 1-mC steps once daily, until the final threshold was identified.

RESULTS

The mean baseline seizure threshold was 3.8 mC when upward titration was begun at 1 mC, and 6.7 mC when upward titration was begun at 5 mC (p < 0.001). Two weeks later, titration from baseline-subthreshold stimuli was associated with a lower final threshold in the 5-mC group, while titration from baseline-threshold stimuli was associated with a higher final threshold in the 1-mC group (p < 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

The ECS seizure threshold ranged from 3 to 7 mC in this sample of rats; since the twofold variation is very small relative to clinical contexts, it is unlikely that ECS research needs to be threshold-based. The administration of low-dose, once-daily subconvulsive stimuli significantly lowered the seizure threshold; while this kindling effect wore off within 2 weeks, thresholds otherwise identified remained stable at the 2-week time point.

Update on magnetic seizure therapy: a novel form of convulsive therapy

Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) refers to the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation to induce a seizure for therapeutic purposes. MST is under investigation as a means of improving the safety profile of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Although both MST and ECT induce seizures through electrical stimulation of the brain, the electric field induced by MST is more focal and limited than that induced by ECT. Because magnetic fields pass through tissue unimpeded, there is greater control over the site and extent of stimulation with MST than can be achieved with ECT. This enhanced control represents a means of focusing the treatment on target cortical structures thought to be essential to antidepressant response and of reducing spread to medial temporal regions implicated in the cognitive side effects of ECT. MST is currently at an early stage of development. This article reviews the experience with MST in animal models and initial human investigations. Preliminary results have demonstrated the feasibility of performing MST in the clinical setting, and there are suggestions that MST may have advantages over ECT in terms of subjective side effects and some measures of acute cognitive functioning. The antidepressant efficacy of MST is not yet known, but studies designed to address that critical issue are underway. As with all attempts to refine convulsive therapy techniques (such as modifications in stimulation parameter configurations and electrode placement), the ultimate clinical value of MST will need to be established through controlled clinical trials.

Applications of TMS to therapy in psychiatry

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been applied to a growing number of psychiatric disorders as a noninvasive probe to study the underlying neurobiologic processes involved in psychiatric disorders and as a putative treatment. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is unparalleled in its ability to test the hypotheses generated by functional neuroimaging studies by modulating activity in selected neural circuits. As a focal intervention that may in some cases exert lasting effects, TMS offers the hope of targeting and ameliorating the circuitry underlying psychiatric disorders. The ultimate success of such an approach depends on our knowledge of the neural circuitry underlying these disorders, of how TMS exerts its effects, and of how to control the application of TMS to exert the desired effects. Although most clinical trials have focused on the treatment of major depression, increasing attention has been paid to schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. Many of these trials have supported a significant effect of TMS, but in some studies the effect is small and short lived. Current challenges in the field include determining how to enhance the efficacy of TMS in these disorders and how to identify patients for whom TMS may be efficacious.

The current state of treatment of status epilepticus

There have been many important developments in the diagnosis and treatment of status epilepticus in the recent past. Earlier treatment, including at home by caregivers and in the field by paramedics, has been shown to be safe and effective. Rapid-acting anesthetic agents, such as midazolam and propofol, are being used more often for refractory status epilepticus, though clinical trials are lacking. Nonconvulsive status epilepticus is being considered and recognized more often, including in ambulatory patients with a confusional state, after convulsive status epilepticus, and in critically ill patients. Modern technology and continuous digital electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings have taught us many things, but have raised at least as many questions. Much work needs to be done regarding the significance of certain EEG patterns (particularly periodic discharges) and when and how to treat them. This article reviews these issues, concentrating on recent advances and practical issues related to the clinical care of patients with status epilepticus.