We convened an international group of experts to standardize definitions of New-Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (NORSE), Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES), and related conditions. This was done to enable improved communication for investigators, physicians, families, patients, and other caregivers. Consensus definitions were achieved via email messages, phone calls, an in-person consensus conference, and collaborative manuscript preparation. Panel members were from 8 countries and included adult and pediatric experts in epilepsy, electroencephalography (EEG), and neurocritical care. The proposed consensus definitions are as follows: NORSE is a clinical presentation, not a specific diagnosis, in a patient without active epilepsy or other preexisting relevant neurological disorder, with new onset of refractory status epilepticus without a clear acute or active structural, toxic or metabolic cause. FIRES is a subcategory of NORSE, applicable for all ages, that requires a prior febrile infection starting between 2 weeks and 24 hours prior to onset of refractory status epilepticus, with or without fever at onset of status epilepticus. Proposed consensus definitions are also provided for Infantile Hemiconvulsion-Hemiplegia and Epilepsy syndrome (IHHE) and for prolonged, refractory and super-refractory status epilepticus. This document has been endorsed by the Critical Care EEG Monitoring Research Consortium. We hope these consensus definitions will promote improved communication, permit multicenter research, and ultimately improve understanding and treatment of these conditions.

IntroductionCefepime, a broad spectrum antibiotic, is commonly prescribed in intensive care units (ICU) and may be an overlooked cause of neurologic symptoms such as encephalopathy, myoclonus, seizures, and coma. We aimed to characterize cefepime neurotoxicity in the ICU.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of adult ICU patients treated with intravenous cefepime for at least 3 days between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011. The primary outcome was the development of cefepime neurotoxicity, with the likelihood of causality ascribed via a modified Delphi method.ResultsThis study included 100 patients. The mean age was 65.8 years (± 12.7 years). The median daily average dose of cefepime was 2.5 (IQR 2.0 to 3.5) grams. The median treatment duration was 6 (IQR 4 to 10) days. Renal failure in any form was present in 84 patients. Chronic kidney disease affected 40 patients, and 77 had acute kidney injury. Cefepime neurotoxicity occurred in 15 patients. Of these, seven were considered definite cases, three probable, and five possible. Neurotoxic symptoms included impaired consciousness (n = 13), myoclonus (n = 11), disorientation (n = 6), and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (n = 1). The dose of cefepime was appropriately adjusted for renal clearance in 64 patients (75.3%) without cefepime neurotoxicity and four patients (28.6%) with neurotoxicity (P = 0.001). Chronic kidney disease was present in 30 patients (35.3%) without neurotoxicity and in 10 (66.7%) of those with neurotoxicity (P = 0.04).ConclusionsCritically ill patients with chronic kidney disease are particularly susceptible to cefepime neurotoxicity. Myoclonus and impaired consciousness are the predominant clinical manifestations. Neurotoxic symptoms occur more often when the cefepime dose is not adjusted for renal function, but can still occur despite those modifications.

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Objective: To describe a case series of adult patients in the intensive care unit in super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE; refractory status lasting 24 hours or more despite appropriate anesthetic treatment) who received treatment with the ketogenic diet (KD). Methods:We performed a retrospective case review at 4 medical centers of adult patients with SRSE treated with the KD. Data collected included demographic features, clinical presentation, diagnosis, EEG data, anticonvulsant treatment, and timing and duration of the KD. Primary outcome measures were resolution of status epilepticus (SE) after initiation of KD and ability to wean from anesthetic agents.Results: Ten adult patients at 4 medical centers were started on the KD for SRSE. The median age was 33 years (interquartile range [IQR] 21), 4 patients (40%) were male, and 7 (70%) had encephalitis. The median duration of SE before initiation of KD was 21.5 days (IQR 28) and the median number of antiepileptic medications used before initiation of KD was 7 (IQR 7). Ninety percent of patients achieved ketosis, and SE ceased in all patients achieving ketosis in a median of 3 days (IQR 8). Three patients had minor complications of the KD including transient acidosis and hypertriglyceridemia and 2 patients ultimately died of causes unrelated to the KD. Conclusion:We describe treatment of critically ill adult patients with SRSE with the KD, with 90% of patients achieving resolution of SE. Prospective trials are warranted to examine the efficacy of the KD in adults with refractory SE. Classification of evidence:This study provides Class IV evidence that for intensive care unit patients with refractory SE, a KD leads to resolution of the SE. Neurology ® 2014;82:665-670 GLOSSARY AED 5 antiepileptic drug; GCS 5 Glasgow Coma Scale; ICU 5 intensive care unit; IQR 5 interquartile range; KD 5 ketogenic diet; LOS 5 length of stay; MAD 5 modified Atkins diet; RSE 5 refractory status epilepticus; SE 5 status epilepticus; SRSE 5 super-refractory status epilepticus.Super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) is defined as status epilepticus (SE) that continues for at least 24 hours after initiation of general anesthetic medications, including cases in which the SE recurs with reduction or withdrawal of anesthesia.1 SRSE holds a high risk of morbidity and mortality and has been associated with conditions such as encephalitis, anoxic brain injury, and intracranial hemorrhage. The ketogenic diet (KD) and modified Atkins diet (MAD) are high fat, low carbohydrate, adequate protein diets designed to mimic the fasting state that have been proven as effective dietary therapies for some children with epilepsy. 3,4 Small open-label studies suggest efficacy in adults as well. 5 Despite their established success in children with refractory epilepsy, only a few case series from single centers describe the use of KD and MAD in adults with refractory SE (RSE) and SRSE. [6][7][8][9][10][11] Given the severity of illness in patients with SRSE, there is a critical need