Hemodynamic monitoring prior to and at the time of death in status epilepticus

Status epilepticus (SE) is a common neurological and medical emergency. Despite the significant mortality associated with SE, no human data have been available regarding cardiovascular changes prior to death in patients with this condition. This study was conducted to measure hemodynamic trends in the 24 h prior to death in a series of 24 prospectively evaluated SE patients. Two distinct cardiovascular patterns of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were observed. Ten patients had a gradual decline in MAP and/or HR, and this group was designated as having gradual cardiac decompensation (GCD). The remaining 14 patients showed no significant changes in either MAP or HR up to the time of death. This group of patients was designated as having acute cardiac decompensation (ACD). The changes in MAP and HR over the last 24 h prior to death between the GCD and ACD groups were statistically significant. Ninety percent of the GCD patients had a history of multiple risk factors for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), while only 30% of the ACD group had a history of multiple risk factors for ASCVD. The results provide the first human data of cardiovascular events immediately preceding death in SE patients. We propose that further investigation of the cardiovascular pathophysiology of SE may provide new therapeutic interventions which could decrease the significant mortality associated with SE. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.