Dexmedetomidine administration in a patient with status epilepticus under color density spectral array monitoring

BACKGROUND: Status epilepticus requires immediate treatment because treatment delay can cause permanent neurologic complications. Dexmedetomidine may be an option for the treatment of status epilepticus although its effect remains unclear with conflicting reports. CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old woman with epilepsy with complex partial seizures underwent total knee arthroplasty. After emergence from general anesthesia, she developed status epilepticus and was transferred to the intensive care unit. Following initial treatment using benzodiazepines, phenytoin, and levetiracetam, dexmedetomidine (0.37 μg/kg loading in 10 min followed by 0.6 μg/kg/h) was administered and seizures terminated in 20 min. Color density spectral array using Root® with SedLine® (Masimo, Irvine, CA, USA) showed an increase in power in high frequency band of the electroencephalogram during the seizure attacks. CONCLUSION: We described a case of status epilepticus which was treated with dexmedetomidine and monitored using color density spectral array.