Comparison of the Effect of Phenobarbital versus Sodium Valproate in Management of Children with Status Epilepticus

Objectives Acute prolonged seizure is the most common neurological emergency in children. This research was conducted to compare the effect of intravenous phenobarbital and sodium valproate in control of seizure in children with status epilepticus, referred to emergency ward from Mar to Nov 2013. Materials & Methods In this randomized clinical trial, registered with the code number IRCT2015051722300N1, 80 children aged 6 months to 10 years with prolonged seizure and with no response to one dose of diazepam (0.2 mg/ kg) administered through IV injection during the five min were selected. Children were randomly divided into two groups, intervention, and control through permutation blocks. In intervention group, intravenous sodium valproate (20 mg/kg) and in control group, intravenous phenobarbital (20 mg/kg) were prescribed. Data such as age, gender, history of previous seizure, seizure type, and recovery time after receiving drug was recorded in the form. Data analysis was done through descriptive statistics, Chisquare and Independent t- test. Results Two groups were the same in terms of age and gender and had no statistically significant difference, but they were different in terms of seizure type. In valproate group, 18 patients (45%) and in phenobarbital group, 32 patients (80%) had positive response to the treatment and the chi-square test showed the significant difference. Conclusion With regards to this point that in phenobarbital group, patients had more rapid response to drug in comparison with patients in sodium valproate group, phenobarbital is a suitable and effective drug for controlling of seizure in children.