Management of status epilepticus in adults

Status epilepticus (SE) may cause death or severe sequelae unless seizures are terminated promptly. Various types of SE exist, and treatment should be adjusted to the specific type. Yet some basic guiding principles are broadly applicable: (1) early treatment is most effective, (2) benzodiazepines are the best first line agents, (3) electroencephalography should be used to confirm the termination of seizures in patients who are not alert and to monitor therapy in refractory cases, and (4) close attention to the appearance of systemic complications (from the SE per se or from the medications used to treat it) is essential. This article expands on these principles and summarizes current knowledge on the definition, classification, diagnosis, and treatment of SE.