Depth of EEG suppression and outcome in barbiturate anesthetic treatment for refractory status epilepticus

Purpose: Barbiturate anesthetic treatment of patients with refractory statu s epilepticus (RSE) is often titrated to a burst-suppression record an the EEG. We sought to determine whether the depth of EEG suppression correlated with persistent seizure control in such patients. Methods: We reviewed the EEGs and clinical course of patients treated with pentobarbital (PTB) for RSE. Persistent seizure control or relapse to statu s epilepticus after the taper of PTB was determined with reference to the d epth of EEG suppression during treatment. Results: Of 35 patients tapering PTB, persistent seizure control was achiev ed in six of 12 patients reaching a burst-suppression record at greatest de pth of EEG suppression and in 17 of 20 patients reaching a "flat" record; t hree patients with neither pattern had persistent control. Survival also wa s somewhat better in the more suppressed group. Isolated epileptiform disch arges during the barbiturate infusion did not correlate with outcome. Recur rence of electrographic status after PTB taper predicted clinical relapse. Conclusions: The EEG is important in managing PTB treatment for patients wi th RSE. Some period of intense seizure and EEG suppression may help in prev enting relapse of status after the PTB taper. It is not necessary to suppre ss all epileptiform discharges, but persistent clinical and EEG monitoring is necessary to avoid relapses.