Good thread indeed.

A while back I began wondering if having seizures from one origin made me susceptible to having seizures from other origins. I asked, and this was confirmed. In other words, I have seizures because of a head injury, but that makes me more likely to have seizures from heatstroke than someone who doesn't already have seizures.

Wouldn't this make it very hard to determine the cause of the seizure?

I would say the difficulty would depend on several factors.

Given the same examples you gave, if it is December, I wouldn't expect seizures from heat injury. And it doesn't matter to me in the field if you were more succesitable o not - point is, you have it now. See what I mean? A little common sense on the part of the medic can go a long way, as can the the simple question "What happened?"

Usually, what you see is what you have.

Just a thought.

x

Re: Seizures
 

is this the military protocol? Not to give meds unless a seizure lasts 15 minutes? I agree that most seizures last less than 3 minutes and do not require meds but the protocols I am familiar with recommend meds if sz last longer than 5 minutes...

Just curious what book you are referring to?

thanx.

doc t.

Protocol for admin of meds for seizures here is 5 minutes from onset of first or as soon as possible after onset of each subsequent seizure.

I cant imagine waiting 15 minutes.

Ahhh...the sweet sound of professional hazing. :D

I was writing a rebuttal and decided to delete it out of "niceness" to our new medic. LOL

Team4Medic... Welcome. Please make sure you comply with NDD's profile request as we are all curious as to what "the book" you have been reading is. HaHA

Note, Most of your post that you felt you "just can't let it get by without saying a few things" is just a rephrased version of information already covered in this thread. Well, except that part which was wrong concerning the 15 minute seizure. Haha

Don't take this the wrong way.. this is actually a TMC 14 version welcome (if your legit).

no hazing involved...just critiquing. Such a more pleasant word.....:)

x

I was taught SE is continuous seizure activity lasting 30 minutes or longer or recurrent seizure(s) without an intervening period of consciousness.

Again, I am not waiting 15 minutes. If the PT is seizing when I arrive they are getting either Valium or Ativan as soon as IV access can be established, or rectally if IV access is unattainable.

And speaking of Valium how many, by a show of keyboard stroke, have given valium rectally, either Ped or Adult?

To a patient?

:D

Yes to a patient.

Ok, never mind.

I am afraid to ask.

:munchin