Prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients with terminated status epilepticus and outcome: An observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Classical clinical characteristics associated with successful or unsuccessful extubation are unreliable in neurocritically ill patients, and attempts to predict successful extubation in this context have failed. We aimed to investigate the frequency of mechanical ventilation (MV) in adult patients in status epilepticus (SE) and its clinical associations, to identify predictors at SE onset of prolonged postictal MV, and to determine the associated outcomes with prolonged MV. METHODS: From 2012 to 2018, SE patients treated in intensive care units at a Swiss academic care center were included. Multivariable Poisson regression adjusting for potential confounders, such as continuously administered anesthetics, was performed to identify risks for postictal MV for >24 h after SE and its association with no return to neurologic function and death. Linear regression was performed to identify correlations between the durations of administered specific anesthetics and postictal MV. RESULTS: Of 262 patients, 42% were ventilated, with 24% being on ventilators for >24 h after SE. Patients with prolonged postictal MV were extubated at a median of 7 days, with 56% not being extubated on the day of successful weaning from MV because of altered consciousness and/or lack of airway-protective reflexes. After extubation, noninvasive ventilation and reintubation were rarely needed. Prolonged postictal MV was associated with increased risk for death independent of potential confounders, including fatal etiology of SE, age, SE severity, and use of anesthetics (relative risk for every additional day = 2.7, p = .024). At SE onset, decreased consciousness and presumed fatal etiology predicted prolonged postictal MV. Anesthetics were associated with prolonged MV, but linear regression could not identify significant correlations. SIGNIFICANCE: Our data reveal that prolonged postictal MV is frequent and an independent risk factor for death. Extubation is often delayed for days despite sufficient weaning from the ventilator and altered airway-protective reflexes in only few patients. Studies need to investigate whether more rigorous extubation strategies improve outcome.

Calorie Intake During Status Epilepticus and Outcome: A 5-Year Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: Recommendations regarding nutrition during status epilepticus are lacking, and it is unclear whether restriction of calorie intake would result in beneficial effects or potential harm. We thus aimed to investigate associations between daily calorie intake and outcome in adult status epilepticus patients deriving from a 5-year cohort with a systematic and prospective collection of nutritional data. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Medical ICUs at a tertiary academic medical care center. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients with status epilepticus treated at the ICUs from 2012 to 2016 were included. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All patients with status epilepticus were monitored regarding nutrition support provided according to the guidelines. Relative risks of no return to baseline were estimated by Poisson regression with robust error variance and adjusted for potential confounders. Of 203 patients, 86 (42%) had return to baseline. Metabolic characteristics of patients with and without return to baseline did not differ. Patients without return to baseline received more calories and proteins per status epilepticus day, and increasing nutritional support was associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia (relative risk, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.09-1.28). Multivariable regression analysis revealed significant increases in relative risks for no return to baseline with every percent of days with nutrition (relative risk, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.05-1.74), with every 100 kcal (relative risk, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.002-1.01), and gram of protein intake (relative risk, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.001-1.01) per status epilepticus day, independent of potential confounders (including fatal etiology, duration and severity of status epilepticus, Charlson comorbidity index, and treatment with anesthetics). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that increased calorie intake during status epilepticus is independently associated with unfavorable outcome. These findings require further validation and investigations into potential mediators, such as induction of ketogenesis, immunomodulating effects, and/or reduction of ICU-associated complications, such as infections.

Bone fractures from generalized convulsive seizures and status epilepticus-A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: We present a systematic review of the literature regarding types and anatomic distribution of fractures in association with generalized convulsive status epilepticus (GCSE) and convulsive seizures in adult patients accompanied by an illustrative case of a patient with GCSE and diffuse postictal pain from underlying bone fractures. METHODS: The library search engines PubMed and EMBASE were screened systematically using predefined search terms. All identified articles written in English were screened for eligibility by two reviewers. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines were followed. RESULTS: The screening of 3145 articles revealed 39 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Among all fractures, bilateral posterior fracture-dislocations of the shoulders were reported most frequently (33%), followed by thoracic and lumbar vertebral compression fractures (29%), skull and jaw fractures (8%), and bilateral femoral neck fractures (6%). Risk factors for seizure-related fractures are seizure severity, duration of epilepsy, the use of antiseizure drugs known to decrease bone density, and a family history of fractures. Based on these findings, a three-step screening procedure is proposed to uncover fractures in the postictal state. All studies were retrospective without standardized screening methods for seizure-associated fractures resulting in a very low level of evidence and a high risk of bias. SIGNIFICANCE: Posterior fracture-dislocations of the shoulders, thoracic and lumbar vertebral compression, fractures of the skull and jaw, and bilateral femoral neck fractures are most frequently reported. Preventive measures including bone densitometry, calcium/vitamin D supplementation, and bisphosphonate therapy should be reinforced in epilepsy patients at risk of osteoporosis. As long as the effect of standardized screening of fractures is not investigated, it is too early to integrate such a screening into treatment guidelines. In the meantime, clinicians are urged to heighten awareness regarding seizure-associated fractures, especially in patients with postictal pain, as symptoms can be unspecific and misinterpretation may impede rehabilitation.