Pentobarbital treatment of refractory status epilepticus

We studied nine patients with status epilepticus refractory to standard therapy. In all patients so treated, IV pentobarbital terminated seizure activity. Mortality was high (77%) in those treated, but was attributed to underlying pathology and possibly to duration of status epilepticus. Pentobarbital therapy should be initiated within 0 to 2 hours after onset of seizures, with continuous EEG monitoring in an intensive care unit.