Adult Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Seizures
Summary of Recommendations
Recommendation Grading
Overview
Title
Management of Adult Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Seizures
Authoring Organization
American College of Emergency Physicians
Publication Month/Year
April 18, 2024
Last Updated Month/Year
April 22, 2024
Document Type
Guideline
External Publication Status
Published
Country of Publication
US
Document Objectives
This clinical policy from the American College of Emergency Physicians addresses key issues in the evaluation and management of adult emergency department patients presenting with seizure. A writing committee conducted a systematic review of the literature to derive evidence-based recommendations to answer the following clinical question: In emergency department patients with generalized convulsive status epilepticus who continue to have seizures despite receiving optimal dosing of benzodiazepine, which agent or agents should be administered next to terminate seizures? Evidence was graded, and recommendations were made based on the strength of the available data.
Target Patient Population
Adult patients aged 18 years and older presenting to the emergency department with generalized convulsive seizures
Target Provider Population
Physicians working in emergency departments
Inclusion Criteria
Male, Female, Adolescent, Adult, Older adult
Health Care Settings
Emergency care, Medical transportation
Intended Users
Nurse, nurse practitioner, paramedic emt, physician, physician assistant
Scope
Treatment, Management
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)
D012640 - Seizures, D004635 - Emergency Medicine, D020270 - Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures, D003294 - Seizures, Febrile, D003295 - Convulsive Therapy, D003292 - Convulsants
Keywords
seizure, adult seizure, unprovoked first seizure