Seizure management in the emergency department can be tricky. Today’s session “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On: Update on Seizure and Status Management” will provide some guidance for the many questions emergency physicians may have, said Wan-Tsu Wendy Chang, MD, assistant professor in the department of emergency medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

One common area emergency physicians discuss is what diagnostic testing to use in adults who present to the emergency department after a seizure if they do not have a known seizure history and are back to their neurological baseline. Another question is whether to start such patients on antiepileptic therapy in the emergency department. “The ACEP Clinical Policies Committee has published two policies on the evaluation and management of seizures in the ED, and I will review their recommendations in the session,” Dr. Chang said.

She will also review the latest guidelines for patients with status epilepticus, including guidelines from the American Epilepsy Society. “I’ll be discussing their proposed algorithm for treatment of status epilepticus, which includes a timeline as well as recommendations for interventions,” she said. Dr. Chang believes the algorithm and timeline are great resources to help emergency physicians decide when to escalate treatment.

“Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” will cover other common questions related to seizure diagnosis and management, such as benzodiazepine dosing, Dr. Chang said. “I find that sometimes we deem someone failing treatment with benzodiazepines due to inadequate dosing. As we do for pediatric medications, we should also use weight-based dosing of antiepileptic medications for adults, even with benzodiazepines,” she said.

The session will offer plenty of practical pearls. “My goal is to provide attendees with up-to-date information that will be relevant on their next shift so that we can continue to improve the care of these patients,” Dr. Chang said.

Wan-Tsu Wendy Chang, MD

Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On:

Update on Seizure and Status Management
Monday, Oct. 30
5-5:30 p.m.
WCC, Ballroom C