Aborting seizures by painful stimulation.
It has been well established that serious consequences may result from allowing seizures to continue. The opportunities for early interruption of seizures by medication is often restricted to medical personnel, leaving non-trained bystanders unable to intervene. We were able to interrupt seizures (including status epilepticus) by application of painful dorsiflexion. The mode of action that enables pain to elevate the seizure threshold remains to be elucidated, although the phenomenon is consistent with earlier laboratory studies in experimental epilepsy. The technique may be recommended as an effective and easily learned procedure that may have wide applicability.
Department of Neurology, Hillel Yafe Hospital, Hadera and Sakler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
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Carasso
Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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Mostofsky
Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
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Yehuda
Convulsions; Dorsiflexion; Fits; Pain; Seizure interruption