Template:Initial management of pediatric status epilepticus

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Initial management of pediatric status epilepticus

Timeline General Considerations Seizure Treatment
0-5 minutes
  • Supportive care
    • ABC's
    • Maintain airway; suction, jaw thrust
    • Provide O2 via positive pressure ventilation with BVM/Mapleson
      • Likely apneic/hypoventilating/hypercapneic
      • Only apply CPAP or a non-rebreather if patient stops seizing and has adequate chest rise
  • Establish IV/IO access
  • Check blood glucose
  • If fever, acetaminophen 15 mg/kg rectally
  • Benzodiazepine: first dose
    • IV/IO access established
      • Lorazepam 0.1 mg/kg IV (max 4 mg) if IV/IO access, OR
      • Diazepam 0.2 mg/kg IM (max 10 mg) if no access
    • IV or IO access not achieved within 3 minutes:
      • Buccal midazolam 0.2 mg/kg (max 10 mg), OR
      • IM midazolam 0.2 mg/kg (max 10 mg), OR
      • Rectal diazepam (Diastat gel or injection solution given rectally) 0.5 mg/kg (max 20 mg)
5-10 minutes
  • Give antibiotics if concern for sepsis or meningitis
  • POC electrolytes, if available
  • Benzodiazepine: second dose
10-15 minutes
  • All equally efficacious for status epilepticus
  • Levetiracetam is preferred given quick administration, favorable side effect profile, and less drug interactions
  • Do not combine Phenytoin and Fosphenytoin
  • Antiepileptic: first therapy
    • Levetiracetam 60 mg/kg IV/IO (max 4500mg) over 5 min, OR
    • Fosphenytoin^ 20 mg PE/kg IV/IO (max 1500mg) over 10 min, OR
    • Valproate 40 mg/kg IV/IO (max 3000mg) over 10 min, OR
    • Phenobarbital 20 mg/kg IV/IO, (max 1 g) over 20 min, (expect respiratory depression with apnea)¥
15-30 minutes
  • Consider intubation, if not already performed
    • Consider NG tube to decompress stomach prior to intubation
  • Pediatric neurology consultation
  • Antiepileptic: second therapy (if medication not already given)
    • Fosphenytoin^ 20 mg PE/kg IV/IO (max 1500mg) over 10 min, OR
    • Valproate 40 mg/kg IV/IO (max 3000mg) over 10 min, OR
    • Phenobarbital 20 mg/kg IV/IO (max 1 g) over 20 min
      • 10 mg/kg if phenobarbital already given, OR
    • Levetiracetam 60 mg/kg IV/IO (max 4500mg) over 5 min
  • If isoniazid toxicity suspected, pyridoxine
    • Infants (<1 year): 100 mg IV or IO in
    • Otherwise 70 mg/kg IV or IO (max = 5 g)
>30 minutes
  • Intubate patient, if not already performed
  • Consult referral site / PICU for admission and continuous EEG
  • Antiepileptic: third therapy
    • Midazolam 0.2mg/kg IV bolus (max 10mg), followed by 0.2mg/kg/hr (max 10mg/hr) infusion drip
    • Increase infusion rate by 0.2mg/kg/hr (max 10mg/hr) every 10 minutes until burst suppression or max dose of 2mg/kg/hr (max 100mg/hr)

^May be ineffective for toxin-induced seizures and contraindicated in cocaine toxicity