Anticonvulsant medications in the pediatric emergency room and intensive care unit.
Publication/Presentation Date
10-1-2008
Abstract
Seizures are common in pediatric emergency care units, either as the main medical issue or in association with an additional neurological problem. Rapid treatment prolonged and repetitive seizures or status epilepticus is important. Multiple anti-convulsant medications are useful in this setting, and each has various indications and potential adverse effects that must be considered in regard to individual patients. This review discusses new data regarding anticonvulsants that are useful in these settings, including fosphenytoin, valproic acid, levetiracetam, and topiramate. A status epilepticus treatment algorithm is suggested, incorporating changes from traditional algorithms based on these new data. Treatment issues specific to complex medical patients, including patients with brain tumors, renal dysfunction, hepatic dysfunction, transplant, congenital heart disease, and anticoagulation, are also discussed.
Volume
24
Issue
10
First Page
705
Last Page
718
ISSN
1535-1815
Published In/Presented At
Abend, N. S., Huh, J. W., Helfaer, M. A., & Dlugos, D. J. (2008). Anticonvulsant medications in the pediatric emergency room and intensive care unit. Pediatric emergency care, 24(10), 705–721. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0b013e318188fcac
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics
PubMedID
19240677
Department(s)
Department of Pediatrics
Document Type
Article