Xenon in the treatment of super-refractory status epilepticus. Case report

Abstract

Tolerance to specific drug therapy may occur in the relief of epileptic status. One of the solutions this problem are use of volatile anesthetics, which have a number of negative properties in addition to positive effects. In the presented description of a clinical case of a super-refractory status epilepticus in a 5-year-old child, xenon, possessing the properties of a general anesthetic and having no negative side effects, was successfully used to relieve seizures. By inhalation of the xenon-oxygen mixture in the proportion of 60–70 % xenon and 30–40 % oxygen, it was possible to completely level the convulsive activity of the patient during the procedure, which was confirmed by electroencephalogram. The presented case gives grounds for further study of the possibility of using xenon in the treatment of super-refractory status epilepticus in children.