Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
05:54
Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy (SEEG) With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note
Published on: June 13, 2016
Emergency room access for recurring seizures: when and why.
S Balestrini1, C Cagnetti, N Foschi
1Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
European Journal of Neurology
|June 11, 2013
Summary
Certain factors like psychiatric therapy and polytherapy predict emergency room visits for drug-resistant epilepsy patients. Identifying these modifiable factors can improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epileptology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Drug-resistant epilepsy presents significant challenges in patient management.
- Emergency Room (ER) visits are common but potentially preventable for these patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potentially modifiable predictive factors for ER visits in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
- To develop a hypothetical model for predicting ER utilization.
Main Methods:
- Prospective comparative analysis of adult drug-resistant epilepsy patients.
- Two groups: those visiting the ER post-seizure and those not.
- Logistic regression to identify independent predictors of ER visits.
Main Results:
- Predictors of ER visits include foreign nationality, psychiatric therapy, antiepileptic drug polytherapy, comorbidities, seizure clusters, and altered seizure patterns.
- ER neuroimaging use correlated with weekend/holiday seizures, monotherapy, multiple comorbidities, and post-seizure brain injury.
Conclusions:
- Identified modifiable factors can guide clinical and therapeutic management for drug-resistant epilepsy.
- Reducing ER visits can decrease patient stress and healthcare expenditures.
- Findings support targeted interventions to optimize care for epilepsy patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
01:20Seizures l: Introduction
Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...
01:22Epilepsy ll: Types
Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.
01:13Seizures: Classification
Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
01:19Seizures ll: Types
Seizures are sudden bursts of abnormal electrical discharge in the brain that interfere with normal function. They are commonly divided into three groups: focal seizures, generalized seizures, and other types that do not fit neatly into either category.Focal SeizuresFocal seizures begin in a single brain region. When awareness is preserved, they are called focal aware seizures and may cause sensations such as tingling, unusual smells, or flashing lights. When awareness is impaired, they are...
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...