title: Clinical decision making in seizures and status epilepticus.
abstract: Seizures and status epilepticus are frequent neurologic emergencies in the emergency department, accounting for 1% of all emergency department visits. The management of this time-sensitive and potentially life-threatening condition is challenging for both prehospital providers and emergency clinicians. The approach to seizing patients begins with differentiating seizure activity from mimics and follows with identifying potential secondary etiologies, such as alcohol-related seizures. The approach to the patient in status epilepticus and the patient with nonconvulsive status epilepticus constitutes a special clinical challenge. This review summarizes the best available evidence and recommendations regarding diagnosis and resuscitation of the seizing patient in the emergency setting.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Teran
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harper-Kirksey
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jagoda
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019091:Critical Pathways; D003657:Decision Making; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D012308:Risk Management; D012640:Seizures / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants