Definition: A prolonged seizure or seizures repeated frequently enough to prevent recovery between episodes occurring over a period of 20-30 minutes. The most common subtype is generalized tonic-clonic status epilepticus, a potentially fatal condition associated with neuronal injury and respiratory and metabolic dysfunction. Nonconvulsive forms include petit mal status and complex partial status, which may manifest as behavioral disturbances. Simple partial status epilepticus consists of persistent motor, sensory, or autonomic seizures that do not impair cognition (see also EPILEPSIA PARTIALIS CONTINUA). Subclinical status epilepticus generally refers to seizures occurring in an unresponsive or comatose individual in the absence of overt signs of seizure activity. (From N Engl J Med 1998 Apr 2;338(14):970-6; Neurologia 1997 Dec;12 Suppl 6:25-30)
note X ref petit mal status: do not confuse with PETIT MAL EPILEPSY see EPILEPSY, ABSENCE
ExamplesEpilepsia Partialis Continua
Other names Simple Partial Status Epilepticus; Petit Mal Status; Non-Convulsive Status Epilepticus; Generalized Convulsive Status Epilepticus; Complex Partial Status Epilepticus; Absence Status; Subclinical Status Epilepticus; Status, Petit Mal; Status, Absence; Status Epilepticus, Non Convulsive; Non Convulsive Status Epilepticus; Generalized Status Epilepticus; Electrographic Status Epilepticus; Status Epilepticus, Subclinical; Status Epilepticus, Simple Partial; Status Epilepticus, Non-Convulsive; Status Epilepticus, Grand Mal; Status Epilepticus, Generalized Convulsive; Status Epilepticus, Generalized; Status Epilepticus, Electrographic
