Midazolam infusions for therapeutic management of pediatric refractory status epilepticus: a systematic review.

Objective: We aim to determine the optimal dosing of midazolam continuous intravenous infusions for the treatment of pediatric refractory status epilepticus (RSE).

Data Sources: We searched Medline ALL, Embase, Embase Classic, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science in March 2023 and again in February 2024.

Study Selection: Randomized and non-randomized studies involving pediatric patients who received continuous midazolam for the treatment of RSE were eligible.

Intrathecal Dexamethasone as a FIRES Extinguisher: A 12-Patient Clinical Experience with Usage of Intrathecal Dexamethasone for Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome.

Background: New-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) is a devastating condition with high mortality and poor long-term outcomes. Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is a subset of NORSE, preceded by fever. Intrathecal dexamethasone (IT-DEX) has emerged as a potential treatment, but few cases have been reported.

Comparison of lacosamide, levetiracetam, and valproate as second-line therapy in adult status epilepticus: Analysis of a large cohort.

We compared the efficacy of lacosamide to other frequently used second-line anti-seizure medications (ASMs) for adult status epilepticus (SE) by conducting a retrospective analysis of an institutional SE registry between January 2013 and December 2022. Clinical outcomes assessed at discharge were categorized as return to baseline, new disability, or death; we also considered SE termination after the second-line ASM and the need for mechanical ventilation. Potential confounders included the Status Epilepticus Severity Score (STESS), sex, adequacy of initial SE treatment, treatment delay, and potentially fatal etiology.

The American Clinical Neurophysiology Society Guideline on Indications for Continuous Electroencephalography Monitoring in Neonates.

Purpose: Continuous EEG (cEEG) monitoring is increasingly used in the management of neonates with seizures. There remains debate on what clinically relevant information can be gained from cEEG in neonates with suspected seizures, at high risk for seizures, or with definite seizures, as well as the use of cEEG for prognosis in a variety of conditions. In this guideline, we address these questions using American Clinical Neurophysiology Society structured methodology for clinical guideline development.

Automated assessment of EEG background for neurodevelopmental prediction in neonatal encephalopathy.

Objective: Assess the capacity of brain state of the newborn (BSN) to predict neurodevelopment outcomes in neonatal encephalopathy.

Methods: Trends of BSN, a deep learning-based measure translating EEG background to a continuous trend, were studied from a three-channel montage long-term EEG monitoring from a prospective cohort of 92 infants with neonatal encephalopathy and neurodevelopmental outcomes assessed by Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 3rd edition (Bayley-III) at 18 months. Outcome prediction used categories "Severe impairment" (Bayley-III composite score ≤70 or death) or "Any impairment" (score ≤85 or death).

Common Data Elements for Disorders of Consciousness: Recommendations from the Working Group on Biospecimens and Biomarkers.

Background: In patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC), laboratory and molecular biomarkers may help define endotypes, identify therapeutic targets, prognosticate outcomes, and guide patient selection in clinical trials. We performed a systematic review to identify common data elements (CDEs) and key design elements (KDEs) for future coma and DoC research.

Methods: The Curing Coma Campaign Biospecimens and Biomarkers work group, composed of seven invited members, reviewed existing biomarker and biospecimens CDEs and conducted a systematic literature review for laboratory and molecular biomarkers using predetermined search words and standardized methodology.

Treatment of seizures in the neonate: Guidelines and consensus-based recommendations-Special report from the ILAE Task Force on Neonatal Seizures.

Seizures are common in neonates, but there is substantial management variability. The Neonatal Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) developed evidence-based recommendations about antiseizure medication (ASM) management in neonates in accordance with ILAE standards. Six priority questions were formulated, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed, and results were reported following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 standards.

The truth Hertz-synchronization of electroencephalogram signals with physiological waveforms recorded in an intensive care unit.

The ability to synchronize continuous electroencephalogram (cEEG) signals with physiological waveforms such as electrocardiogram (ECG), invasive pressures, photoplethysmography and other signals can provide meaningful insights regarding coupling between brain activity and other physiological subsystems. Aligning these datasets is a particularly challenging problem because device clocks handle time differently and synchronization protocols may be undocumented or proprietary.We used an ensemble-based model to detect the timestamps of heartbeat artefacts from ECG waveforms recorded from inpatient bedside monitors and from cEEG signals acquired using a different device.

Automated Interpretation of Clinical Electroencephalograms Using Artificial Intelligence.

Importance: Electroencephalograms (EEGs) are a fundamental evaluation in neurology but require special expertise unavailable in many regions of the world. Artificial intelligence (AI) has a potential for addressing these unmet needs. Previous AI models address only limited aspects of EEG interpretation such as distinguishing abnormal from normal or identifying epileptiform activity.

Seizure Burden and Neurologic Outcomes After Neonatal Encephalopathy.

Background And Objectives: Seizures are common during neonatal encephalopathy (NE), but the contribution of seizure burden (SB) to outcomes remains controversial. This study aims to examine the relationship between electrographic SB and neurologic outcomes after NE.

Methods: This prospective cohort study recruited newborns ≥36 weeks postmenstrual age around 6 hours of life between August 2014 and November 2019 from a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Survey of Pediatric ICU EEG Monitoring-Reassessment After a Decade.

Purpose: In 2011, the authors conducted a survey regarding continuous EEG (CEEG) utilization in critically ill children. In the interim decade, the literature has expanded, and guidelines and consensus statements have addressed CEEG utilization. Thus, the authors aimed to characterize current practice related to CEEG utilization in critically ill children.

Brain network properties of clinical versus subclinical seizures among critically ill children.

Objective: Electrographic seizures are common among critically ill children, and have been associated with worse outcomes. Despite their often-widespread cortical representation, most of these seizures remain subclinical, a phenomenon which remains poorly understood. We compared the brain network properties of clinical versus subclinical seizures to gain insight into their relative potential deleterious effects.

Machine learning to support triage of children at risk for epileptic seizures in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Epileptic seizures are relatively common in critically-ill children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and thus serve as an important target for identification and treatment. Most of these seizures have no discernible clinical manifestation but still have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Children that are deemed at risk for seizures within the PICU are monitored using continuous-electroencephalogram (cEEG).

A phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of soticlestat as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients with Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (ELEKTRA).

Objective: Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) are rare treatment-resistant childhood epilepsies classed as developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. ELEKTRA investigated the efficacy and safety of soticlestat (TAK-935) as adjunctive therapy in children with DS or LGS (NCT03650452).

Methods: ELEKTRA was a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of soticlestat (≤300 mg twice daily, weight-adjusted) in children (aged 2-17 years) with DS, demonstrating three or more convulsive seizures/month, or with LGS, demonstrating four or more drop seizures/month at baseline.

The brain in pediatric critical care: unique aspects of assessment, monitoring, investigations, and follow-up.

As survival after pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission has improved over recent years, a key focus now is the reduction of morbidities and optimization of quality of life for survivors. Neurologic disorders and direct brain injuries are the reason for 11-16% of admissions to PICU. In addition, many critically ill children are at heightened risk of brain injury and neurodevelopmental difficulties affecting later life, e.

Why monitor the neonatal brain-that is the important question.

A key goal of neonatal neurocritical care is improved outcomes, and brain monitoring plays an essential role. The recent NEST trial reported no outcome benefits using aEEG monitoring compared to clinical seizure identification among neonates treated for seizures. However, the study failed to prove the effects of monitoring on seizure treatment in the first place.

Spectrograms for Seizure Detection in Critically Ill Children.

Electrographic seizures are common in critically ill children and a significant proportion of these seizures are nonconvulsive. There is an association between electrographic seizures and neurophysiological disturbances, worse short- and long-term neurologic outcomes, and mortality in critically ill patients. In this context, timely diagnosis and treatment of electrographic seizures in critically ill children becomes important.

Alterations in coordinated EEG activity precede the development of seizures in comatose children.

Objective: We aimed to test the hypothesis that computational features of the first several minutes of EEG recording can be used to estimate the risk for development of acute seizures in comatose critically-ill children.

Methods: In a prospective cohort of 118 comatose children, we computed features of the first five minutes of artifact-free EEG recording (spectral power, inter-regional synchronization and cross-frequency coupling) and tested if these features could help identify the 25 children who went on to develop acute symptomatic seizures during the subsequent 48 hours of cEEG monitoring.

Results: Children who developed acute seizures demonstrated higher average spectral power, particularly in the theta frequency range, and distinct patterns of inter-regional connectivity, characterized by greater connectivity at delta and theta frequencies, but weaker connectivity at beta and low gamma frequencies.

Educational initiatives for electroencephalography in the critical care setting: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: We systematically reviewed existing critical care electroencephalography (EEG) educational programs for non-neurologists, with the primary goal of reporting the content covered, methods of instruction, overall duration, and participant experience. Our secondary goals were to assess the impact of EEG programs on participants' core knowledge, and the agreement between non-experts and experts for seizure identification.

Source: Major databases were searched from inception to 30 August 2020.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Impact of Preoperative Seizures in Neonates With Congenital Heart Disease.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence, risk factors, and impact of electrographic seizures in neonates with complex congenital heart disease before cardiac surgery.

Methods: A cohort of 31 neonates with congenital heart disease monitored preoperatively with continuous video-EEG (cEEG) was first reviewed for electrographic seizure burden and EEG background abnormalities. Second, cEEG findings were correlated with brain MRI and 18-month outcomes.

Emergency management of the paediatric patient with convulsive status epilepticus.

This guideline addresses the emergency management of convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) in children and infants older than 1 month of age. It replaces a previous position statement from 2011, and includes a new treatment algorithm and table of recommended medications based on new evidence and reflecting the evolution of clinical practice over the past several years. This statement emphasizes the importance of timely pharmacological management of CSE, and includes some guidance for diagnostic approach and supportive care.

Educational initiatives and implementation of electroencephalography into the acute care environment: a protocol of a systematic review.

Background: Use of electroencephalography (EEG) is currently recommended by the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society for a wide range of indications, including diagnosis of nonconvulsive status epilepticus and evaluation of unexplained disorders of consciousness. Data interpretation usually occurs by expert personnel (e.g.