Treatment with ketamine significantly improved seizure occurrence related to refractory status epilepticus in both neonates and children, according to results of a study published in Neurology.
“Many children with status epilepticus have persistent seizures despite administration of at least two appropriately dosed antiseizure medications,” Marin Jacobwitz, CRNP, of the department of pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and colleagues wrote. “Ketamine, a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist, may be a beneficial alternative anesthetic.”