The use of the Salzburg Criteria in the Diagnosis of Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus

Due to often only subtle motor phenomena, the diagnosis of non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is a frequent differential diagnosis in patients with impaired vigilance. Since an early adequate therapy of NCSE is related to a better therapy response as well as functional outcome, a precise and early diagnostic verification is of high relevance. Based on the results of the "London-Innsbruck Coloquium on Status Epilepticus and Acute Seizures", which took place in Salzburg in 2013, a group of experts developed a diagnostic algorithm based on electroencephalographic and clinical criteria, known as the "Salzburg Criteria". Over the last years, these criteria have been clinically tested and established, but also partly criticized regarding their applicability. This article explains the Salzburg criteria and discusses potential pitfalls in their application.