Update in status epilepticus. / Actualización en el estado de mal epiléptico (status epilepticus).

ABSTRACT

Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency that requires urgent antiepileptic therapies, and a rapid treatment of its cause. In recent years, its definition has been updated to adapt it to all types of SE; this update helps to standardise the treatment. The new definition is based on two times point t1, after which the event will not spontaneously cease, and period t2, after which neuronal damage may appear. There are three lines of treatment first, benzodiazepines; second, antiepileptic drugs; and third, intravenous anaesthetics. The application of the different lines of treatment raises still unanswered questions, since the prognosis also depends on the aetiology, age and duration. For this reason, different prognostic scales are being developed to help us to assess its evolution and in turn, adapt the aggressiveness of the treatment to each patient.