Title: What is the role of EEG for first-time seizures in the ED?<br/>Author: WanTsu Wendy Chang<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/1322/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </p> <p style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> <strong>What is the role of EEG for first-time seizures in the ED?</strong></p> <ul> <li> Wyman and colleagues performed a prospective trial on the use of 30-minute routine electroencephalogram (EEG) in the ED after a first-time seizure or recurrent seizure without performance of a previous EEG to guide decision making in the initiation of antiepileptic medication.</li> <li> A diagnosis of epilepsy based on EEG findings was made for 21% of patients (n=15/71).</li> <li> Antiepileptic medication was initiated in 24% of patients (n=17/71), including 2 patients with abnormal but not epileptic EEG findings.</li> </ul> <p> <strong><u>Take Home Point</u>:</strong> A 30-minute routine EEG in the ED in adults with an uncomplicated first-time seizure revealed a substantial number of epilepsy diagnosis and can change ED management with immediate initiation of antiepileptic medication.</p>
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<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
<ul> <li> Wyman AJ, Mayes BN, Hernandez-Nino J, Rozario N, Beverly SK, Asimos AW. The first-time seizure emergency department electroencephalogram study. Ann Emerg Med 2017;69(2):184-191.</li> <li> Huff JS, Melnick ER, Tomaszewski CA, et al. Clinical policy: critical issues in the evaluation and management of adult patients presenting to the emergency department with seizures. Ann Emerg Med 2014;63(4):437-447.</li> <li> Krumholz A, Wiebe S, Gronseth G, et al. Practice parameter: evaluating an apparent unprovoked first seizure in adults (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society. Neurology 2007;69(21):1996-2007.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"> <em><strong>Follow me on Twitter @EM_NCC</strong></em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> </fieldset>