Seizure Management in the Intensive Care Unit

Overview

Journal Curr Treat Options Neurol

Specialty Neurology

Date 2021 Oct 26

PMID 34697528

Citations 1

Authors

Jane G Boggs

Affiliations

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Abstract

Purpose Of This Review: This review presents current therapy for seizures in the intensive care unit. The reader is provided with recent evidence regarding the use of EEG in determining treatment for acute seizures. Proposed treatment approaches for seizures and status epilepticus are provided. Controversies and complexity of selecting treatments are discussed.

Recent Findings: Critical Care EEG Monitoring Research Consortium analyzed the association of periodic and rhythmic electroencephalographic patterns with seizures and found that lateralized and generalized periodic discharges and lateralized rhythmic delta were associated with increased seizure risk. Applications using modified EEG techniques have demonstrated more rapid feedback to the ICU than was previously possible.

Summary: Accurate diagnosis and efficient treatment of seizures in the ICU is challenging due to patient factors, complexities of antiepileptic drug therapy, and the required expertise for EEG interpretation. Selection of optimally effective therapy for seizures or status epilepticus depends on multiple factors, making collaboration between neurophysiologists and the ICU team of paramount importance.

Citing Articles

Current norms and practices in using a seizure diary for managing epilepsy: A scoping review.

Egenasi C, Moodley A, Steinberg W, Adefuye A S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2022; 64(1):e1-e9.

PMID: 36226950 PMC: 9575367. DOI: 10.4102/safp.v64i1.5540.

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