Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Oct 1.
Published in final edited form as: Lancet Neurol. 2011 Oct;10(10):922–930. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70187-9

Table 3.

Non-pharmacological options for RSE (see text for references)

Advantages Disadvantages/Remarks
Resective surgery 101 May act causally Not appropriate in multifocal SE; need of experienced interdisciplinary team; surgical risks
Vagal nerve stimulation 102 Appropriate for long-term use Invasive procedure; cardiac arrhythmias rarely reported
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation106 Non-invasive procedure Possible seizure induction; need to sustained treatment
Electroconvulsive treatment 108, 109 Non-invasive procedure Need of experienced interdisciplinary team; possible seizure induction
Mild hypothermia 112 Acts on several pathophysiological mechanisms Mostly only transitory control; avoid barbiturates (ileus)
Classical music 115 Pleasant for nursing team No side effects; scarcely reported

RSE: refractory status epilepticus