Definition of status epilepticus

With Charcot's wise counsel, let us start with definitions. We have seen, in chapter 1, how theoretical constructs of status evolved, and how the subject was last seriously considered at the Marseilles Colloquium in 1962. The exegesis of status arrived at is one which has been widely adopted. It is the basis of the WHO dictionary definition of status as ‘a condition characterised by epileptic seizures that are sufficiently prolonged or repeated at sufficiently brief intervals so as to produce an unvarying and enduring epileptic condition’ (Gastaut 1973; an ‘etymological’ definition, which was an extension of the ‘historical’ definition confined to grand mal status). It has been carefully worded in order to incorporate what was seen at Marseilles as the increasing proliferation of ‘enduring epileptic conditions’, all with a compelling claim to be included in the family of status. When Bourneville recognised the special nature of prolonged seizures, his concern was only tonic—clonic convulsions (état de grand mal), and definition was relatively simple. With the subsequent identification of nonconvulsive status, epilepsia partialis continua, neonatal status, absence status, myoclonic status, and childhood status syndromes, the definition had to be widened.