Review article: Paediatric status epilepticus in the pre‐hospital setting: An update

Paediatric status epilepticus (SE) is a medical emergency and a common critical condition confronting pre‐hospital providers. Management in the pre‐hospital environment is challenging but considered extremely important as a potentially modifiable factor on outcome. Recent data from multicentre clinical trials, quality observational studies and consensus documents have influenced management in this area, and is important to both pre‐hospital providers and emergency physicians. The objective of this review was to: (i) present an overview of the available evidence relevant to pre‐hospital care of paediatric SE; and (ii) assess the current pre‐hospital practice guidelines in Australia and New Zealand. The review outlines current definitions and guidelines of SE management, regional variability in pre‐hospital protocols within Australasia and aspects of pre‐hospital care that could potentially be improved. Contemporary data is required to determine current practice in our setting. It is important that paediatric neurologists, emergency physicians and pre‐hospital care providers are all engaged in future endeavours to improve clinical care and knowledge translation efforts for this patient group.