Long-term risk of chronic epilepsy in adults after post-anoxic coma and refractory status epilepticus: a retrospective cohort study.

Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) has been reported in 20%–30% of patients in coma after cardiac arrest,1 but aggressive and prolonged treatment of RSE in patients with favourable multimodal prognostic indicators might lead to 40%–50% survival and good neurological outcome.2 However, scarce data are available on chronic epilepsy after cardiac arrest, which may severely impair the quality of life in survivors. It is unclear whether these patients are at risk of epilepsy, and whether the occurrence of RSE in the acute phase increases such risk. We investigated the risk of epilepsy in a cohort of cardiac arrest survivors. ### Study design This is a retrospective cohort study approved by the Ethics Committee of San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy, based on a previous prospective study.2 Between January 2011 and May 2016, consecutive adult patients with cardiac arrest treated with hypothermia (34°C), in coma for >24 hours, underwent simplified 4-channel continuous EEG monitoring (cEEG) started within 24 hours of event. If electrographic status epilepticus was detected, regardless of clinical manifestations, patients received an aggressive standardised treatment, according to our published protocol.2 ### Prognostic EEG patterns A multimodal prognostic approach was applied in all cases.3 Notably, no included patient received withdrawal of care, intended as active reduction of respiratory support or vasoactive drugs. Prognostic EEG patterns were identified by on-call epilepsy specialists on cEEG monitoring in the first 5 days after the event. EEG features were coded according to the ACNS classification for reactivity, continuity and generalised periodic discharges (GPDs),4 and to the Salzburg …