Seizure management in a Model Three hospital: what does specialist neurology add?

The commonest reason for admissions to hospital in Ireland annually for patients with a neurological condition is due to convulsions/epilepsy and their care is often managed by Internal Medicine physicians.

The study aims to evaluate the care provided for patients admitted with seizures in a Model Three hospital before and after the commencement of a specialist onsite neurology service.

Retrospective chart review of patients admitted from Emergency Department (ED) with the term "seizure" during a 4-month period in 2018 and 2019 was undertaken. Charts evaluated for patient demographics, Length of Stay (LOS), driving and lifestyle advice offered, and rescue medications prescribed upon discharge.

In 2018, a total of 58 patients were admitted with a seizure over a period of 4 months of audit and the mean LOS was 4.25 days (SD = 4.43). Driving advice was documented in 9 patients and Buccal midazolam (Buccalam) for rescue therapy for prolonged seizures was prescribed once. Following the appointment of a neurologist, LOS for patients admitted with seizure dropped to 2.6 days (SD = 3.44, p < 0.05) in the same time frame in 2019. Driving status/recommendations were documented in 27(42%) and buccal midazolam was prescribed for 25 (39%) patients.

Access to expert neurology review in a Model Three hospital in Ireland not only improved the provision of safe, timely, and equitable care but also significantly reduced the LOS for patients admitted with seizures.