The ketogenic diet for super-refractory status epilepticus patients in intensive care units. 2019

Eu Gene Park, and Jiwon Lee, and Jeehun Lee
Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

OBJECTIVE Super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) is one of the most challenging issues in intensive care units (ICUs) in that it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although the ketogenic diet (KD) has been reported to be effective in treating of SRSE, the use of the diet as therapy can be complicated by concomitant medical problems specific to critically ill patients. In this study, we aimed to describe our experience of the KD for SRSE patients in ICUs. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 16 patients (10 males, 6 females) with SRSE who were treated with the KD in the ICUs at Samsung Medical Center from July 2005 to July 2017. RESULTS The median age of seizure onset was 8 years (interquartile range 5-13.5). Prior to diet initiation, the patients were in convulsive or non-convulsive SRSE for a median of 23 days (range, 3-420). The median time to achieve ketosis was 3 days (range, 2-6). The KD was continued for a median of 2.1 months (range, 0.1-15.8). Of the 16 patients, nine (56.3%) achieved seizure freedom, six (37.5%) reported >50% seizure reduction, and one (6.2%) had <50% seizure improvement after the KD. There was no significant change in the number of antiepileptic drugs. The most commonly encountered complication during the KD was gastrointestinal disturbance. CONCLUSIONS Our experience indicates that the KD is an effective alternative therapeutic strategy for SRSE patients in ICUs with adequate efficacy and safety in reducing seizure frequency and weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation, although functional outcome was not favorable for most patients. Close monitoring and preventive management of potential adverse effects are critical elements for success with the KD in patients with SRSE.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007362 Intensive Care Units Hospital units providing continuous surveillance and care to acutely ill patients. ICU Intensive Care Units,Intensive Care Unit,Unit, Intensive Care
D008297 Male Males
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000069279 Drug Resistant Epilepsy Epileptic condition in which adequate trials of two tolerated and appropriately chosen and used ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS schedules to achieve sustained seizure freedom failed. Drug Refractory Epilepsy,Epilepsy, Drug Refractory,Epilepsy, Drug Resistant,Epilepsy, Intractable,Intractable Epilepsy,Medication Resistant Epilepsy,Refractory Epilepsy,Drug Refractory Epilepsies,Drug Resistant Epilepsies,Epilepsies, Drug Refractory,Epilepsies, Drug Resistant,Epilepsies, Intractable,Epilepsies, Medication Resistant,Epilepsies, Refractory,Epilepsy, Medication Resistant,Epilepsy, Refractory,Intractable Epilepsies,Medication Resistant Epilepsies,Refractory Epilepsies,Refractory Epilepsies, Drug,Refractory Epilepsy, Drug,Resistant Epilepsies, Drug,Resistant Epilepsies, Medication,Resistant Epilepsy, Drug,Resistant Epilepsy, Medication
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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