Chloral hydrate saves the day Following the administration of chloral

hydrate to patients in status epilepticus, ' •.• epikptic IICti,ity ceased clinically aM ekctroencepludogrtlpllically witllin a sllon period'. Fi ve patients (aged 22-68 years) presenting with status epileptic us, unresponsive to conventional medication, received rectal chloral hydrate 30 mg/kg 2-hourly for 6 hours followed by 20 mg/kg 4-hourly for 42 hours, commencing within 50-60 min of seizure onset. Computed tomography revealed a cerebral infarction in 2 patients and a cerebral metastasis in I. Following administration of chloral hydrate, seizures completely ceased in 3 patients at 5-7 min, I patient had 3 focal seizures at 8, 14 and 21 hours and seizures ceased in I patient at 12 min, however, a generalised seizure occurred after 24 hours. Full consciousness was regained by 3 patients, consciousness and partial functioning was regained by I patient who died I week later (extension of the patient's initial cerebral lesion was observed), and I patient did not regain consciousness and died 3 weeks later. Lampl Y. Eshel Y. Gilad R. Sarova-Pinchas I. Chloral hydrate in intractable status epilepticus. Annals of Emergency Medicine 19: 674-676. Jun 1990 ....

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