Hanging-induced status epilepticus

Survival from hanging is associated with a variety of neuropsychiatric consequences, including amnesia, localized muscle spasms, transient hemiplegla, central cord syndrome, and multiple transient neurologic findings. This report describes a near hanging episode in a patient who subsequently had status epilepticus requiring 40 mg of diazepam and 1,200 mg of phenytoin for control in the prehospital and emergency department stabilization period. This is the first well-documented report of hanging with subsequent status epilepticus in an adult. The patient survived with an abnormal electroencephalogram consistent with anoxic injury and was discharged on anticonvulsant therapy, although the rationale for medication in such patients is unclear and requires further study. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.