A case of resistant tachycardia in a child with febrile status epilepticus

Article information

Clin Exp Emerg Med. 2018;5(4):286-287
Publication date (electronic) : 2018 December 31
doi : https://doi.org/10.15441/ceem.17.283
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
2Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
3Division of Cardiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
Correspondence to: Hirokazu Takei Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Medical Center, 2-8-29, Musashidai, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8561, Japan E-mail: paquottehiro@yahoo.co.jp
Received 2017 October 24; Revised 2017 November 06; Accepted 2017 November 06.

A 5-year-old girl with no medical history presented at the emergency department with febrile status epilepticus (FSE). On arrival, she presented with a generalized tonic seizure and significant tachycardia (228 bpm). The generalized tonic seizure resolved following the administration of intranasal (0.3 mg/kg)/intravenous (0.2 mg/kg) midazolam and fosphenytoin (22.5 mg/kg), although the tachycardia persisted. A 12-lead electrocardiogram revealed narrow QRS regular tachycardia (Fig. 1), and a pediatric cardiologist was consulted. Intravenous adenosine (0.2 mg/kg) was administered and a definitive diagnosis of atrial tachycardia (AT) was made (Fig. 2). The patient was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit.

Fig. 1.

Twelve-lead electrocardiogram showing regular, narrow QRS tachycardia, with a heart rate of 197/min.

Fig. 2.

Twelve-lead electrocardiogram obtained during the administration of an intravenous bolus of adenosine, showing uniform P waves and AV block.

AT is a relatively common arrhythmia in children [1]. The electrocardiogram shows an abnormal morphology of P waves, narrow QRS, and a fluctuating RR interval. The abnormal P wave of patients with AT may not be obvious, and the administration of adenosine is effective for diagnosis: the electrocardiogram demonstrates atrioventricular block, with a constant P wave as a result of the inhibition of atrioventricular conduction by adenosine and an increase in atrial automaticity.

Tachycardia is seen in almost all cases of FSE caused by an underlying fever, infection, dehydration, or the seizure itself. Furthermore, sympathetic nervous function may be stimulated and/or trigger cardiac automaticity in patients with status epilepticus [2-5]. In this case, a diagnosis of AT was made on the basis of persistent tachycardia despite the cessation of the seizures. AT should be considered in patients with FSE if the tachycardia is resistant to anticonvulsive treatment.

Notes

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Mr. James Robert Valera for his help with editing the manuscript.

References

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2. van der Lende M, Surges R, Sander JW, Thijs RD. Cardiac arrhythmias during or after epileptic seizures. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2016;87:69–74.
3. Tao JX, Yung I, Lee A, Rose S, Jacobsen J, Ebersole JS. Tonic phase of a generalized convulsive seizure is an independent predictor of postictal generalized EEG suppression. Epilepsia 2013;54:858–65.
4. Pinto KG, Scorza FA, Arida RM, et al. Sudden unexpected death in an adolescent with epilepsy: all roads lead to the heart? Cardiol J 2011;18:194–6.
5. Rice EH, Sombrotto LB, Markowitz JC, Leon AC. Cardiovascular morbidity in high-risk patients during ECT. Am J Psychiatry 1994;151:1637–41.

Article information Continued

Notes

Capsule Summary

What is already known

Tachycardia is seen in almost all cases with febrile status epilepticus caused by an underlying fever, infection, dehydration or the seizure itself.

What is new in the current study

Atrial tachycardia should be considered in patients with febrile status epilepticus if the tachycardia is resistant to anticonvulsive treatment.

Fig. 1.

Twelve-lead electrocardiogram showing regular, narrow QRS tachycardia, with a heart rate of 197/min.

Fig. 2.

Twelve-lead electrocardiogram obtained during the administration of an intravenous bolus of adenosine, showing uniform P waves and AV block.