Non-convulsive seizures in children with infection-related altered mental status.

BACKGROUND: In the intensive care unit, the use of continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) in children with altered mental status often results in the detection of non-convulsive seizures (NCS). Children with influenza can occasionally display altered mental status, but the prevalence of NCS in children with influenza with altered mental status is yet to be determined. This study determined the prevalence of NCS in pediatric patients with altered mental status associated with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed admissions to the pediatric intensive care unit between September 2009 and February 2010 and confirmed the presence of NCS on cEEG in children with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and with altered mental status. RESULTS: Of the 15 patients (aged 41-159 months old), NCS was identified on cEEG in five children (33%). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-third of the children infected with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 with altered mental status had NCS. Further research is needed to determine if the detection and management of NCS improve outcome in these children.

Therapeutic indicators of acute encephalopathy in patients with complex febrile seizures.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of neurologic damage in children with febrile seizures or altered consciousness within 6 h of seizure onset. METHODS: The present study included 86 children (age range, 4-159 months old), who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for complex febrile seizures on admission between October 2002 and November 2008. Using the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale (PCPC), the children were classified into two groups: poor outcome (PCPC = 2-6) and good outcome (PCPC = 1). Clinical profiles and laboratory findings were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Of the 86 children, 17 fell into the poor outcome and 69 into the good outcome group. Using univariate analysis, three early risk factors for poor outcome were identified: (i) consciousness disturbance or hemiplegia at 6 h from onset; (ii) refractory status epilepticus; and (iii) elevation of aspartate aminotransferase to >90 IU/L within 6 h of onset. Using these criteria, children in the poor outcome group were identified with a 94% sensitivity and 67% specificity rate (odds ratio, 36.6; 95% confidence interval: 4.87-1560). During the study period, the inpatients who met the criteria for acute encephalopathy also fell into the poor outcome group. CONCLUSIONS: The development of neurologic damage in children with complex febrile seizures can be predicted within 6 h of onset, using the identified risk factors. The authors propose an assumption of severe febrile seizures (SFS) in children who fulfill these risk factors. Using SFS as an inclusion criterion, an interventional study for acute encephalopathy can be designed.

[Induced hypothermia/normothermia with general anesthesia prevents neurological damage in children with febrile refractory status epilepticus].

Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is defined as persistence of seizure activity despite appropriate medical and antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy. Febrile RSE is often caused by presumed encephalitis and has a high morbidity rate. In addition, it is believed that hyperthermia aggravates epileptic brain damage. The efficacy of hypothermia/normothermia (H/N) therapy against brain damage has been proposed, but there have been limited studies reporting on the efficacy of this treatment against febrile RSE. To study the efficacy of induced H/N with general anesthesia therapy in children with febrile RSE, a retrospective review of RSE cases was conducted in 28 children hospitalized in the tertiary pediatric intensive care center of Kobe Children's Hospital, Japan, between October 2002 and August 2009. Clinical outcomes and neurological sequelae using the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale (PCPC) score were compared after one month of treatment with either H/N (34 degrees C-36 degrees C) with general anesthesia therapy or with other conventional therapies. Cases were categorized as those with good recovery (PCPC=1) or poor outcome (PCPC=2-6). Twelve children underwent H/N with general anesthesia therapy, while 16 children were treated by conventional therapy using intravenous diazepam and/or midazolam. Treatment with H/N significantly improved outcome compared to conventional therapies (p=0.024; Fisher's exact test). Five of 6 patients with poor outcome had a final diagnosis of acute encephalopathy with febrile convulsive status epilepticus (AEFCSE). Treatment with H/N therapy may reduce neurological damage in the development of AEFCSE caused by febrile RSE in children.

Midazolam fails to prevent neurological damage in children with convulsive refractory febrile status epilepticus.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a retrospective study to compare the outcome of intravenous midazolam infusion without electroencephalography or targeted temperature management and barbiturate coma therapy with electroencephalography and targeted temperature management for treating convulsive refractory febrile status epilepticus. PATIENTS: Of 49 consecutive convulsive refractory febrile status epilepticus patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of our hospital, 29 were excluded because they received other treatments or because of various underlying illnesses. Thus, eight patients were treated with midazolam and 10 with barbiturate coma therapy using thiamylal. Midazolam-treated patients were intubated only when necessary, whereas barbiturate coma therapy patients were routinely intubated. Continuous electroencephalography monitoring was utilized only for the barbiturate coma group. The titration goal for anesthesia was clinical termination of status epilepticus in the midazolam group and suppression or burst-suppression patterns on electroencephalography in the barbiturate coma group. Normothermia was maintained using blankets and neuromuscular blockade in the barbiturate coma group and using antipyretics in the midazolam group. Prognoses were measured at 1 month after onset; children were classified into poor and good outcome groups. RESULTS: Good outcome was achieved in all the barbiturate coma group patients and 50% of the midazolam group patients (P = 0.02, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSIONS: Although the sample size was small and our study could not determine which protocol element is essential for the neurological outcome, the findings suggest that clinical seizure control using midazolam without continuous electroencephalography monitoring or targeted temperature management is insufficient in preventing neurological damage in children with convulsive refractory febrile status epilepticus.