Practice parameters in management of status epileptics

Status epilepticus (SE) is an emergency neurological problem, more common in the developing countries due to high incidence of infection, stroke and head injury. The protocol for management of SE is intravenous benzodiazepine, followed by phenytoin, valproate (VPA) and phenobarbitone and if uncontrolled general anesthesia (GA). World Federation of Neurology recommends special guidelines for resource poor countries. Use of GA results in hypotension and respiratory depression needing intensive care management. There is a paucity of intensive care facilities hence the recommended antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) which have inherent toxicity of hypotension and respiratory failure cannot be given safely. Under these situations AEDs such as VPA, levetiracetam and lacosamide may be evaluated in SE because of cardiovascular and respiratory safety profile. In this review, the limitations of existing guidelines in the developing countries have been discussed and a way forward has been suggested.