Survivors and nonsurvivors of very prolonged status epilepticus

► Predictors of outcome in status epilepticus include etiology and coma at onset. ► A minority of patients with very long status epilepticus become exceptions to “predictive rules.” ► Some patients with very prolonged status epilepticus survive; some die despite long (futile) treatment. ► Old age, overall health, and social factors can cause deviations from predictions.