Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus
Published on: April 5, 2011
Non-convulsive status epilepticus is not a benign entity: The etiology determines mortality and its form of
Alfonso Canabal-Berlanga1, Isabel Magaña1, Claudia Alvargonzález1
1Department of Intensive Medicine, Neurocritical Unit, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain.
Purpose:
The prognostic significance of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) compared with convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) remains uncertain. We compared clinical features, treatment burden and outcomes of both phenotypes in critically ill adults, and assessed independent predictors of mortality and functional outcome.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective study of 168 adults with status epilepticus admitted to a tertiary intensive care unit. After exclusion of 4 patients with undocumented semiology, the comparative cohort included 164 patients: 83 with CSE and 81 with NCSE. Five patients evolving from CSE to NCSE were classified as NCSE. NCSE was diagnosed using clinical assessment, EEG monitoring and the Salzburg Consensus Criteria. Outcomes were hospital mortality and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) >3 at discharge. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors.
Results:
Baseline age, APACHE II score and Glasgow Coma Scale did not differ between groups. Among NCSE patients, 35 fulfilled Salzburg criterion IIA and 36 criterion IIB. A benzodiazepine diagnostic trial was recorded in 27 patients, with EEG improvement in 25. Hospital mortality was similar in CSE and NCSE (34%vs 32%; p = 0.869). NCSE was associated with greater treatment burden, longer time to seizure control, longer ICU stay and worse functional outcome (mRS >3: 57% vs 84%; p < 0.001). Mortality was independently associated with age, anoxic encephalopathy and super-refractory status, but not NCSE. NCSE independently predicted poor functional outcome.
Conclusion:
NCSE did not independently increase mortality, but was associated with greater therapeutic complexity and worse functional outcome at discharge, supporting early EEG monitoring and etiology-guided treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Seizures l: Introduction
Epilepsy ll: Types
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Seizures ll: Types
Electroconvulsive Therapy

