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Acute acid-base disorders associated with status epilepticus
1Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN 55905.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings
|November 1, 1994
Summary
Acid-base abnormalities, particularly respiratory acidosis, are frequent in status epilepticus patients. These imbalances often resolve on their own and do not predict the final outcome.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Status epilepticus is a medical emergency characterized by prolonged seizures.
- Acid-base disturbances can complicate the clinical course of status epilepticus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and types of acid-base abnormalities in patients experiencing status epilepticus.
- To determine the association between acid-base status and clinical findings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 38 patients with status epilepticus admitted to the emergency department.
- Analysis of arterial blood gas (ABG) results to categorize acid-base disorders.
- Review of chest X-rays and ECGs for pulmonary infiltrates and cardiac arrhythmias.
Main Results:
- Acid-base abnormalities were detected in 84% of patients upon admission.
- Respiratory acidosis, alone or with metabolic acidosis, was the most common finding (42%).
- No significant difference in pulmonary infiltrates was observed based on acidosis type. Cardiac arrhythmias were slightly more common in acidosis patients but not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Respiratory acidosis, with or without metabolic acidosis, is a common finding in status epilepticus.
- Respiratory acidosis was not a predictor of patient outcomes.
- All identified acid-base abnormalities resolved spontaneously in the study cohort.