Frontotemporal EEG to guide sedation in COVID-19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome

Objective

To study if limited frontotemporal electroencephalogram (EEG) can guide sedation changes in highly infectious novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients receiving neuromuscular blocking agent.

Methods

98 days of continuous frontotemporal EEG from 11 consecutive patients was evaluated daily by an epileptologist to recommend reduction or maintenance of the sedative level. We evaluated the need to increase sedation in the 6 h following this recommendation. Post-hoc analysis of the quantitative EEG was correlated with the level of sedation using a machine learning algorithm.

Results

Eleven patients were studied for a total of ninety-eight sedation days. EEG was consistent with excessive sedation on 57 (58%) and adequate sedation on 41 days (42%). Recommendations were followed by the team on 59% (N = 58; 19 to reduce and 39 to keep the sedation level). In the 6 h following reduction in sedation, increases of sedation were needed in 7 (12%). Automatized classification of EEG sedation levels reached 80% (±17%) accuracy.

Conclusions

Visual inspection of a limited EEG helped sedation depth guidance. In a secondary analysis, our data supported that this determination may be automated using quantitative EEG analysis.

Significance

Our results support the use of frontotemporal EEG for guiding sedation in patients with COVID-19.

Sleep and Epilepsy: a Focused Review of Pathophysiology, Clinical Syndromes, Co-morbidities, and Therapy

A healthy brain requires balancing of waking and sleeping states. The normal changes in waking and sleeping states result in neurophysiological conditions that either increase or decrease the tendency of seizures and interictal discharges to occur. This article reviews the manifold and complex relationships between sleep and epilepsy and discusses treatment of the sleep-related epilepsies. Several forms of epilepsy predominantly or exclusively manifest during sleep and seizures tend to arise especially from light NREM sleep. Diagnostic interictal epileptiform discharges on the electroencephalogram are also most likely to be activated during deep NREM sleep stage N3. Epileptiform discharges and antiepileptic medications may in turn detrimentally impact sleep. Co-morbid sleep disorders also have the potential to worsen seizure control. Sleep has an important key association with sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Further research is necessary to understand the complex relationships between sleep and epileptic disorders and their treatments.

Development and validation of a predictive model of drug-resistant genetic generalized epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a clinical prediction model for antiepileptic drug (AED)-resistant genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE).

METHOD

We performed a case-control study of patients with and without drug-resistant GGE, nested within ongoing longitudinal observational studies of AED response at 2 tertiary epilepsy centers. Using a validation dataset, we tested the predictive performance of 3 candidate models, developed from a training dataset. We then tested the candidate models' predictive ability on an external testing dataset.

RESULTS

Of 5,189 patients in the ongoing longitudinal study, 121 met criteria for AED-resistant GGE and 468 met criteria for AED-responsive GGE. There were 66 patients with GGE in the external dataset, of whom 17 were cases. Catamenial epilepsy, history of a psychiatric condition, and seizure types were strongly related with drug-resistant GGE case status. Compared to women without catamenial epilepsy, women with catamenial epilepsy had about a fourfold increased risk for AED resistance. The calibration of 3 models, assessing the agreement between observed outcomes and predictions, was adequate. Discriminative ability, as measured with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), ranged from 0.58 to 0.65.

CONCLUSION

Catamenial epilepsy, history of a psychiatric condition, and the seizure type combination of generalized tonic clonic, myoclonic, and absence seizures are negative prognostic factors of drug-resistant GGE. The AUC of 0.6 is not consistent with truly effective separation of the groups, suggesting other unmeasured variables may need to be considered in future studies to improve predictability.

The phenotype of bilateral hippocampal sclerosis and its management in "real life" clinical settings

OBJECTIVE

There is little detailed phenotypic characterization of bilateral hippocampal sclerosis (HS). We therefore conducted a multicenter review of people with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and bilateral HS to better determine their clinical characteristics.

METHODS

Databases from 11 EPIGEN centers were searched. For identified cases, clinicians reviewed the medical notes, imaging, and electroencephalographic (EEG), video-EEG, and neuropsychometric data. Data were irretrievably anonymized, and a single database was populated to capture all phenotypic information. These data were compared with phenotyped cases of unilateral HS from the same centers.

RESULTS

In total, 96 patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and bilateral HS were identified (43 female, 53 male; age range = 8-80 years). Twenty-five percent had experienced febrile convulsions, and 27% of patients had experienced status epilepticus. The mean number of previously tried antiepileptic drugs was 5.32, and the average number of currently prescribed medications was 2.99; 44.8% of patients had cognitive difficulties, and 47.9% had psychiatric comorbidity; 35.4% (34/96) of patients continued with long-term medical therapy alone, another 4 being seizure-free on medication. Sixteen patients proceeded to, or were awaiting, neurostimulation, and 11 underwent surgical resection. One patient was rendered seizure-free postresection, with an improvement in seizures for 3 other cases. By comparison, of 201 patients with unilateral HS, a significantly higher number (44.3%) had febrile convulsions and only 11.4% had experienced status epilepticus. Importantly, 41.8% (84/201) of patients with unilateral HS had focal aware seizures, whereas such seizures were less frequently observed in people with bilateral HS, and were never observed exclusively (P = .002; Fisher's exact test).

SIGNIFICANCE

The current work describes the phenotypic spectrum of people with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and bilateral HS, highlights salient clinical differences from patients with unilateral HS, and provides a large platform from which to develop further studies, both epidemiological and genomic, to better understand etiopathogenesis and optimal treatment regimes in this condition.

Sleep and Epilepsy

The neurophysiology of the brain is complicated and nuanced. It is responsible for the normal sleep/wake states that every person experiences, and for the changes in brain neurophysiology that result in epileptic seizures and in disorders of sleep. It is therefore not surprising that sleep, sleep disorders, and epilepsy interact on many levels. The sleep state influences the detection of interictal epileptiform discharges, important for diagnosis of epilepsy. The state of sleep also influences whether a seizure will occur at a given time, and this differs considerably for various epilepsy syndromes. Sleep disruption of any kind, including from sleep disorders, can worsen epileptic seizures and contribute to intractability. Finally, anticonvulsant medications can influence sleep and sleep disorders in both positive and negative ways. Understanding this interplay between epilepsy and sleep is helpful in the optimal treatment of all patients with epileptic seizures.

Two-year seizure reduction in adults with medically intractable partial onset epilepsy treated with responsive neurostimulation: final results of the RNS System Pivotal trial

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of responsive stimulation at the seizure focus as an adjunctive therapy to reduce the frequency of seizures in adults with medically intractable partial onset seizures arising from one or two seizure foci.

METHODS

Randomized multicenter double-blinded controlled trial of responsive focal cortical stimulation (RNS System). Subjects with medically intractable partial onset seizures from one or two foci were implanted, and 1 month postimplant were randomized 1:1 to active or sham stimulation. After the fifth postimplant month, all subjects received responsive stimulation in an open label period (OLP) to complete 2 years of postimplant follow-up.

RESULTS

All 191 subjects were randomized. The percent change in seizures at the end of the blinded period was -37.9% in the active and -17.3% in the sham stimulation group (p = 0.012, Generalized Estimating Equations). The median percent reduction in seizures in the OLP was 44% at 1 year and 53% at 2 years, which represents a progressive and significant improvement with time (p < 0.0001). The serious adverse event rate was not different between subjects receiving active and sham stimulation. Adverse events were consistent with the known risks of an implanted medical device, seizures, and of other epilepsy treatments. There were no adverse effects on neuropsychological function or mood.

SIGNIFICANCE

Responsive stimulation to the seizure focus reduced the frequency of partial-onset seizures acutely, showed improving seizure reduction over time, was well tolerated, and was acceptably safe. The RNS System provides an additional treatment option for patients with medically intractable partial-onset seizures.

Epilepsy, behavior, and art (Epilepsy, Brain, and Mind, part 1)

Epilepsy is both a disease of the brain and the mind. Brain diseases, structural and/or functional, underlie the appearance of epilepsy, but the notion of epilepsy is larger and cannot be reduced exclusively to the brain. We can therefore look at epilepsy from two angles. The first perspective is intrinsic: the etiology and pathophysiology, problems of therapy, impact on the brain networks, and the "mind" aspects of brain functions - cognitive, emotional, and affective. The second perspective is extrinsic: the social interactions of the person with epilepsy, the influence of the surrounding environment, and the influences of epilepsy on society. All these aspects reaching far beyond the pure biological nature of epilepsy have been the topics of two International Congresses of Epilepsy, Brain, and Mind that were held in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2010 and 2012 (the third Congress will be held in Brno, Czech Republic on April 3-5, 2014; www.epilepsy-brain-mind2014.eu). Here, we present the first of two papers with extended summaries of selected presentations of the 2012 Congress that focused on epilepsy, behavior, and art.

Paradoxical worsening of seizure activity with pregabalin in an adult with isodicentric 15 (IDIC-15) syndrome involving duplications of the GABRB3, GABRA5 and GABRG3 genes

Background

Isodicentric 15 syndrome (IDIC-15) is due to partial duplications of chromosome 15 that may includes the q11–13 region that includes genes encoding the α5 (GABRA5) and β3 - γ3 (GABRB3) receptor subunits. The disease causes intellectual and physical developmental delay, seizures, intellectual disability and behavioral disorders that may be related to abnormal GABA receptor function and morphology. Seizures are often severe and may be refractory to treatment. There are however no specific guidelines for the treatment of the seizures and it is unknown whether drugs that affect the GABAergic system have a different effect in IDIC-15 seizures.

Case presentation

We report the case of an adult individual with IDIC-15 whose complex-partial seizures worsened dramatically after the introduction of pregabalin, with increased seizure frequency, frequent generalization, and appearance of new seizure pattern. Her cognitive function and verbal skills also worsened during treatment with pregabalin. Her seizures and cognitive skills quickly improved after pregabalin was discontinued and treatment with lacosamide started.

Discussion

As her genetic testing confirmed that her region of duplication included GABA receptor encoding genes, it is plausible that the worsening of seizures were due to induction of an abnormal GABAergic response to pregabalin.

Conclusion

As her genetic testing confirmed that her region of duplication included GABA receptor encoding genes, it is plausible that the worsening of seizures were due to induction of an abnormal GABAergic response to pregabalin.This case may help define proper therapeutic strategies for the treatment of IDIC-15 associated seizures.

Daytime sleepiness and risk of stroke and vascular disease: findings from the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS)

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have suggested that poor quality and diminished quantity of sleep may be independently linked to vascular events although prospective and multiethnic studies are limited. This study aimed to explore the relationship between daytime sleepiness and the risk of ischemic stroke and vascular events in an elderly, multiethnic prospective cohort.

METHODS AND RESULTS

As part of the Northern Manhattan Study, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale was collected during the 2004 annual follow-up. Daytime sleepiness was trichotomized using previously reported cut points of no dozing, some dozing, and significant dozing. Subjects were followed annually for a mean of 5.1 years. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for stroke, myocardial infarction, and death outcomes. We obtained the Epworth Sleepiness Scale on 2088 community residents. The mean age was 73.5 ± 9.3 years; 64% were women; 17% were white, 20% black, 60% Hispanic, and 3% were other. Over 44% of the cohort reported no daytime dozing, 47% some dozing, and 9% significant daytime dozing. Compared with those reporting no daytime dozing, individuals reporting significant dozing had an increased risk of ischemic stroke (hazard ratio, 2.74 [95% confidence interval, 1.38-5.43]), all stroke (3.00 [1.57-5.73]), the combination of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular death (2.38 [1.50-3.78]), and all vascular events (2.48 [1.57-3.91]), after adjusting for medical comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Daytime sleepiness is an independent risk factor for stroke and other vascular events. These findings suggest the importance of screening for sleep problems at the primary care level.

Reduction of AEDs in postsurgical patients who attain remission

PURPOSE

Little evidence guides practice regarding the reduction of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in individuals who achieve significant periods of remission after resective surgery.

METHODS

In a prospective study of 396 individuals who underwent resective surgery for intractable seizures, the impact of reducing AEDs on relapse and predictors of relapse were examined.

RESULTS

Of 301 study subjects who attained a 1-year seizure remission after surgery, 129 reduced from two to one or from one to no AEDs after achieving remission, and 162 did not reduce drugs. Ten patients who stopped all AEDs before attaining remission were excluded from analysis. In all, 114 (39%) patients relapsed: 73 (45%) of 162 in the nonreduction group and 41 (32%) of 129 in the reduction group (p = 0.02). Patients who reduced drugs were more likely to have remitted immediately after hospital discharge (p<0.0001). After adjustment for this factor, little or no apparent impact of drug reduction on the rate of relapse was noted [rate ratio (RR), 1.1; 95% CI, 0.72-1.71; p=0.64 for reducing from two to one AED, and RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.50-1.45; p=0.56 for reducing from one to no AEDs]. Within the 129 patients who reduced AEDs, only delayed remission after hospital discharge was significantly associated with an increased rate of relapse (RR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.15- 4.48; p=0.02). Continued auras had a marginally significant association with relapse (RR, 2.06; p=0.07)

CONCLUSIONS

Although many relapses in this cohort of postsurgical patients who achieved remission occurred in the context of reducing or completely eliminating AEDs, the risk was no higher than in those who continued AEDs. Randomized studies are needed to test the impact of drug reduction in seizure-free postsurgical patients.

Efficacy and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drugs I: treatment of new onset epilepsy: report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee and Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society

OBJECTIVE

To assess the evidence demonstrating efficacy, tolerability, and safety of seven new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) (gabapentin, lamotrigine, topiramate, tiagabine, oxcarbazepine, levetiracetam, and zonisamide-reviewed in the order in which these agents received approval by the US Food and Drug Administration) in the treatment of children and adults with newly diagnosed partial and generalized epilepsies.

METHODS

A 23-member committee, including general neurologists, pediatric neurologists, epileptologists, and doctors in pharmacy, evaluated the available evidence based on a structured literature review including MEDLINE, Current Contents, and Cochrane library for relevant articles from 1987 until September 2002, with selected manual searches up until 2003.

RESULTS

There is evidence either from comparative or dose-controlled trials that gabapentin, lamotrigine, topiramate, and oxcarbazepine have efficacy as monotherapy in newly diagnosed adolescents and adults with either partial or mixed seizure disorders. There is also evidence that lamotrigine is effective for newly diagnosed absence seizures in children. Evidence for effectiveness of the new AEDs in newly diagnosed patients with other generalized epilepsy syndromes is lacking.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this evidence-based assessment provide guidelines for the prescription of AEDs for patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy and identify those seizure types and syndromes where more evidence is necessary.

Efficacy and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drugs, II: Treatment of refractory epilepsy: report of the TTA and QSS Subcommittees of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society

PURPOSE

To assess the evidence demonstrating efficacy, tolerability, and safety of seven new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) [gabapentin (GBP), lamotrigine (LTG), topiramate (TPM), tiagabine (TGB), oxcarbazepine (OXC), levetiracetam (LEV), and zonisamide (ZNS)] in the treatment of children and adults with refractory partial and generalized epilepsies.

METHODS

A 23-member committee, including general neurologists, pediatric neurologists, epileptologists, and doctors in pharmacy, evaluated the available evidence based on a structured literature review including MEDLINE, Current Contents, and Cochrane Library for relevant articles from 1987 to March 2003.

RESULTS

All of the new AEDs were found to be appropriate for adjunctive treatment of refractory partial seizures in adults. GBP can be effective for the treatment of mixed seizure disorders, and GBP, LTG, OXC, and TPM for the treatment of refractory partial seizures in children. Limited evidence suggests that LTG and TPM also are effective for adjunctive treatment of idiopathic generalized epilepsy in adults and children, as well as treatment of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

The choice of AED depends on seizure and/or syndrome type, patient age, concomitant medications, and AED tolerability, safety, and efficacy. The results of this evidence-based assessment provide guidelines for the prescription of AEDs for patients with refractory epilepsy and identify those seizure types and syndromes for which more evidence is necessary.

Efficacy and Tolerability of the New Antiepileptic Drugs, I: Treatment of New-Onset Epilepsy: Report of the TTA and QSS Subcommittees of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society

PURPOSE

To assess the evidence demonstrating efficacy, tolerability, and safety of seven new antiepileptic drugs [AEDs; gabapentin (GBP), lamotrigine (LTG), topiramate (TPM), tiagabine (TGB), oxcarbazepine (OXC), levetiracetam (LEV), and zonisamide (ZNS), reviewed in the order in which these agents received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration] in the treatment of children and adults with newly diagnosed partial and generalized epilepsies.

METHODS

A 23-member committee, including general neurologists, pediatric neurologists, epileptologists, and doctors in pharmacy, evaluated the available evidence based on a structured literature review including MEDLINE, Current Contents, and Cochrane Library for relevant articles from 1987 until September 2002, with selected manual searches up to 2003.

RESULTS

Evidence exists, either from comparative or dose-controlled trials, that GBP, LTG, TPM, and OXC have efficacy as monotherapy in newly diagnosed adolescents and adults with either partial or mixed seizure disorders. Evidence also shows that LTG is effective for newly diagnosed absence seizures in children. Evidence for effectiveness of the new AEDs in newly diagnosed patients with other generalized epilepsy syndromes is lacking.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this evidence-based assessment provide guidelines for the prescription of AEDs for patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy and identify those seizure types and syndromes for which more evidence is necessary.

Efficacy and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drugs II: Treatment of refractory epilepsy: Report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee and Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society

OBJECTIVE

To assess the evidence demonstrating efficacy, tolerability, and safety of seven new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) (gabapentin, lamotrigine, topiramate, tiagabine, oxcarbazepine, levetiracetam, and zonisamide) in the treatment of children and adults with refractory partial and generalized epilepsies.

METHODS

A 23-member committee including general neurologists, pediatric neurologists, epileptologists, and doctors in pharmacy evaluated the available evidence based on a structured literature review including MEDLINE, Current Contents, and Cochrane library for relevant articles from 1987 until March 2003.

RESULTS

All of the new AEDs were found to be appropriate for adjunctive treatment of refractory partial seizures in adults. Gabapentin can be effective for the treatment of mixed seizure disorders, and gabapentin, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, and topiramate for the treatment of refractory partial seizures in children. Limited evidence suggests that lamotrigine and topiramate are also effective for adjunctive treatment of idiopathic generalized epilepsy in adults and children, as well as treatment of the Lennox Gastaut syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

The choice of AED depends upon seizure and/or syndrome type, patient age, concomitant medications, AED tolerability, safety, and efficacy. The results of this evidence-based assessment provide guidelines for the prescription of AEDs for patients with refractory epilepsy and identify those seizure types and syndromes where more evidence is necessary.

Sleep and Epilepsy: Something Else We Did Not Know

Sleep Deprivation Does Not Affect Seizure Frequency During Inpatient Video-EEG Monitoring

Malow BA, Passaro E, Milling C, Minecan DN, Levy K

Neurology 2002;59:1371–137

Purpose

To determine whether acute sleep deprivation facilitates seizures during inpatient monitoring in a controlled protocol.

Methods

Eighty-four patients with medically refractory partial epilepsy undergoing inpatient monitoring were assigned in consecutive blocks to either sleep deprivation every other night or to normal sleep. In both groups, subjects were requested to stay awake during the day, from 6 am to 10 pm. In the sleep-deprivation group, patients also stayed awake between 10 pm and 6 am every other night beginning with day 2. Patients were removed from sleep deprivation if they had two or more secondarily generalized seizures within 24 hours. Patients were removed from the normal sleep group and were sleep deprived if they did not have a complex partial or secondarily generalized seizure by day 6 of monitoring. In these patients removed from sleep deprivation or from normal sleep, data were analyzed up to and including the day of removal from the protocol.

Results

The sleep deprivation and normal sleep subjects did not differ in age, sex, seizure localization, or percentage dosage reduction in antiepileptic drugs from baseline at days 1 to 3 of monitoring. Protocol duration was 6.5 ± 2.4 days (mean ± SD) for the sleep-deprivation group and 5.8 ± 2.0 days for the normal sleep group. Seizures per day for complex partial, secondarily generalized, and combined complex partial and secondarily generalized, calculated from admission until end of protocol, did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Conclusions

Acute sleep deprivation did not affect seizure frequency during inpatient monitoring in our patients with intractable complex partial seizures with secondary generalization.

How long does it take for partial epilepsy to become intractable?

BACKGROUND

Much remains unknown about the natural history of intractable localization-related epilepsy, including how long it typically takes before intractability becomes evident. This information could guide the design of future studies, resolve certain discrepancies in the literature, and provide more accurate information about long-term prognosis.

METHODS

Individuals evaluated for resective surgery for refractory localization-related epilepsy were prospectively identified at the time of initial surgical evaluation at seven surgical centers (between 1996 and 2001). The latency time between onset of epilepsy and failure of second medication and history of remission (>/=1 year seizure-free) before surgical evaluation were examined with respect to age at onset, hippocampal atrophy, febrile seizures, and surgical site.

RESULTS

In the 333 patients included in the analysis, latency time was 9.1 years (range 0 to 48) and 26% reported a prior remission before surgery. A prior remission of >/=5 years was reported by 8.5% of study participants. Younger age at onset was strongly associated with longer latency time (p < 0.0001) and higher probability of past remission (p < 0.0001). In multivariable analyses, age at onset remained as the most important explanatory variable of both latency time and prior remission.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial proportion of localization-related epilepsy may not become clearly intractable for many years after onset. This is especially true of epilepsy of childhood and early adolescent onset. If prospective studies confirm these findings and the underlying mechanisms behind these associations become understood, this raises the possibility of considering interventions that might interrupt such a process and some day prevent some forms of epilepsy from becoming intractable.

Treatment of Out-of-Hospital Status Epilepticus

A Comparison of Lorazepam, Diazepam, and Placebo for the Treatment of Out-of-Hospital Status Epilepticus

Alldredge BK, Gelb AM, Isaacs SM, Corry MD, Allen F, Ulrich S, Gottwald MD, O'Neil N, Neuhaus JM, Segal MR, Lowenstein DH

N Engl J Med 2001;345:631–637

Background

It is uncertain whether the administration of benzodiazepines by paramedics is an effective and safe treatment for out-of-hospital status epilepticus.

Methods

We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial to evaluate intravenous benzodiazepines administered by paramedics for the treatment of out-of-hospital status epilepticus. Adults with prolonged (lasting five minutes or more) or repetitive generalized convulsive seizures received intravenous diazepam (5 mg), lorazepam (2 mg), or placebo. An identical second injection was given if needed.

Results

Of the 205 patients enrolled, 66 received lorazepam, 68 received diazepam, and 71 received placebo. Status epilepticus had been terminated on arrival at the emergency department in more patients treated with lorazepam (59.1 percent) or diazepam (42.6 percent) than patients given placebo (21.1 percent) (P=0.001). After adjustment for covariates, the odds ratio for termination of status epilepticus by the time of arrival in the lorazepam group as compared with the placebo group was 4.8 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.9 to 13.0). The odds ratio was 1.9 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.8 to 4.4) in the lorazepam group as compared with the diazepam group and 2.3 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.0 to 5.9) in the diazepam group as compared with the placebo group. The rates of respiratory or circulatory complications (indicated by bag valve-mask ventilation or an attempt at intubation, hypotension, or cardiac dysrhythmia) after the study treatment was administered were 10.6 percent for the lorazepam group, 10.3 percent for the diazepam group, and 22.5 percent for the placebo group (P=0.08).

Conclusions

Benzodiazepines are safe and effective when administered by paramedics for out-of-hospital status epilepticus in adults. Lorazepam is likely to be a better therapy than diazepam.