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ECT in the treatment of status epilepticus.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lisanby, SH; Bazil, CW; Resor, SR; Nobler, MS; Finck, DA; Sackeim, HA
Published in: J ECT
September 2001

INTRODUCTION: Owing to its potent anticonvulsant actions, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been proposed as an intervention for treatment-resistant seizure disorders. METHOD: We review the literature on the use of ECT in treatment-resistant epilepsy and status epilepticus (SE) and present a case of a patient who was in nonconvulsive SE for 26 days and then treated with ECT after all standard pharmacological strategies were exhausted. Because of skull defects, a novel electrode placement was used. RESULTS: Owing to massively elevated seizure threshold attributable to concomitant anticonvulsant medications, extraordinarily high electrical dosage was needed for ECT to elicit generalized seizures. Status was terminated after three successful ECT-induced seizures. However, the long-term functional outcome of the patient was poor. DISCUSSION: The role of ECT in the treatment algorithm for SE is discussed.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J ECT

DOI

ISSN

1095-0680

Publication Date

September 2001

Volume

17

Issue

3

Start / End Page

210 / 215

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Status Epilepticus
  • Skull
  • Recurrence
  • Psychiatry
  • Prognosis
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Electrodes
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Lisanby, S. H., Bazil, C. W., Resor, S. R., Nobler, M. S., Finck, D. A., & Sackeim, H. A. (2001). ECT in the treatment of status epilepticus. J ECT, 17(3), 210–215. https://doi.org/10.1097/00124509-200109000-00013

Published In

J ECT

DOI

ISSN

1095-0680

Publication Date

September 2001

Volume

17

Issue

3

Start / End Page

210 / 215

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Status Epilepticus
  • Skull
  • Recurrence
  • Psychiatry
  • Prognosis
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Electrodes
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy