Severe seizures:

Dr. Frontera and EEG technician, Maryann Sostak, assess a continuous EEG recording.

Seizures are abnormal electrical discharges that propagate through the brain. Seizures can occur in patients with epilepsy, but also can be provoked by brain injury from trauma, strokes, tumors, infection, alcohol abuse, metabolic imbalance or certain drugs. Status epilepticus is defined as uncontrolled and persistent seizures. Status epilepticus can lead to brain injury and must be treated without delay. Patients typically require brain monitoring called electroencephalogram (EEG) to help treat status epilepticus. A variety of different medications are available to treat status epilepticus.