SIG | Status Epilepticus: The Broad Spectrum of Focal Status Epilepticus

OVERVIEW: 

This Special Interest Group serves as a platform to discuss complex approaches in the diagnosis of focal status epilepticus, from insights into its pathophysiology and etiology, to clinical features and electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities.

Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency associated with high mortality and morbidity. One of the main prognostic factors is the underlying etiology of SE. Focal status epilepticus (FSE) can be seen with a wide variety of clinical seizure types or without obvious clinical manifestations. The available scientific evidence may be insufficient to claim that pharmacological treatment of focal SE should be different from the treatment of generalized SE. Diagnosing and treating FSE can be challenging.

This session covers a wide range of diagnostic challenges and proposed solutions, including interpreting epileptiform discharges not only as a sign of an abnormal cortex but rather as a treatable epileptic condition. This session is intended to help clinicians with options that will impact the treatment of focal status epilepticus and its comorbidities and to illustrate comprehensive and new perspectives in the medical algorithm.