Refractory status epilepticus (RSE)

refractory status epilepticus (RSE)

Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is when a patient is not responding to standard treatment regimens for status epilepticus.

The definition of RSE is not clear and there exist some controversies regarding this:

• the number of AEDs to which the patient did not respond. Majority of experts consider RSE after failure of adequately dosed initial benzodiazepine and one AED.
• duration of SE after initiation of treatment. Most experts no longer consider duration to be a criterion for classification of RSE.

Reference:

• (1) Brophy GM et al. Guidelines for the evaluation and management of status epilepticus. Neurocrit Care. 2012;17(1):3-23.