Jerusalem Woman Recovers After 80-Day Medically Induced Coma for Rare Epilepsy

Ariela Hershel, a 41-year-old mother of seven from Jerusalem, has recovered after a prolonged medically induced coma lasting over 80 days. Hershel returned to Israel from a vacation in the United States and began experiencing confusion and severe seizures. Initially suspected to be dehydration by her family, her condition rapidly worsened upon arrival at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, where she suffered intense epileptic fits.

Doctors diagnosed Hershel with FIRES syndrome, a rare neurological condition known as Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome. This syndrome, triggered by infection and fever, causes sudden, drug-resistant seizures. "It is such a rare syndrome that there are not even medical data on its rarity," explained Dr. Stefan Maussbach, head of the neurological intensive care unit at Shaare Zedek.

To halt the life-threatening seizures, Hershel was placed in a deep, medically induced coma. For approximately one month, doctors used isoflurane, an anesthetic typically used for short surgical procedures, to maintain the coma. Simultaneously, she received biological and autoimmune drug treatments under continuous EEG monitoring. A neurosurgical team, led by Dr. Gustavo Reis, implanted a vagal nerve stimulator to help reduce the frequency of seizures.

After more than 80 days, Hershel was safely brought out of the coma. Her husband, Yosef, described the experience as "very frightening" due to the escalating seizures. The medical team's extensive, multidisciplinary approach, involving neurology, epilepsy, infectious diseases, and hematology specialists, led to her gradual improvement.

Upon waking, Hershel began to move and speak almost immediately, with a significant reduction in seizure frequency. Now in active rehabilitation, Hershel, who immigrated from the U.S. 19 years ago, expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you for saving my life." Dr. Maussbach credited the hospital's experience with similar cases and early diagnosis for the successful outcome.