Pediatric status epilepticus: a perspective from Saudi Arabia.

The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors and management of status epilepticus and non-status epilepticus seizures at a community hospital in Saudi Arabia. The research design was a prevalence study of a convenience sample of pediatric seizure episodes admitted to a 350-bed hospital from 1992 to 1997. The mean age at presentation was 2 years, 10 months, 43% of patients had no history of seizures, and 17% were transferred from other hospitals. Fifty-nine (28%) of 212 seizure episodes were status epilepticus (SE). These SE episodes were significantly more likely than non-SE episodes to be associated with a history of seizures, prior antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy, the presence of an acute etiology, and prolonged duration of seizures before hospitalization. SE episodes were also significantly more likely than non-SE episodes to receive an inappropriate AED, to require intensive care unit admission, to suffer morbidity, and to have SE recurrence at follow-up; however, the difference in mortality was not significant. In conclusion, children with SE were more likely than those with non-SE seizures to have a history of seizures and acute brain insults, prolonged seizure duration before hospitalization, and less optimal management and outcomes. Management of SE in this referral population can be improved by more rapid access to appropriate medical care.