What are the life-threatening complications of epilepsy?

What are the life-threatening complications of epilepsy?

Seizures can lead to serious physical injuries. In addition, life-threatening conditions associated with epilepsy include status epilepticus and sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

Status epilepticus

Status epilepticus is a long-lasting (five to 30 minutes) seizure or seizures that occur close together without time to recover between them. It’s considered a medical emergency.

Emergency treatment at a hospital may include:

• Medications, oxygen and intravenous fluids.
• Placement (with anesthetics) into a coma to stop the seizures.
• EEG monitoring to determine response to treatment.
• Tests to discover the cause of the seizure.

Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP)

Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a rare condition in which an otherwise healthy young-to-middle-aged person with epilepsy dies without a clear cause. The person often dies at night or during sleep without witnesses. Researchers believe some of the causes might include:

• Irregular heart rhythm. Seizures may cause a serious heart rhythm problem or cardiac arrest.
• Breathing difficulty. If breathing stops (for example, due to sleep apnea), lack of oxygen to your heart and brain can be life-threatening. Also, sometimes airways can get blocked during a convulsive seizure, which could cause suffocation.
• Inhaling vomit. Inhaling vomit during or after a seizure can block your airway.
• Brain function interference. A seizure might interfere with areas of your brain that control breathing and heart rate.

About 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy die from SUDEP each year. It’s the leading cause of death in people with uncontrolled seizures. Ways to reduce your risk of SUDEP include knowing and avoiding your seizure triggers, taking your medications as directed by your healthcare provider and following general healthy living practices (be well-rested, exercise, eat healthy foods, avoid smoking and avoid drinking too much or using recreational drugs).