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dc.contributor.authorAnang, Julius
dc.contributor.authorTellez-Zenteno, Jose F
dc.date2022-08-11T08:09:30.000
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-23T16:33:21Z
dc.date.available2022-08-23T16:33:21Z
dc.date.issued2012-12-21
dc.date.submitted2012-05-27
dc.identifier.doi10.7191/neurol_bull.2012.1035
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/38085
dc.description.abstractIntroduction Single unprovoked seizures occur in about 4% of the population and they have significant psychosocial consequences for the patients and their families. Little information is available on the timeliness and safety of assessment of first unprovoked seizures. In this study, we review the timeliness of the referral and evaluation of patients with first unprovoked seizure in a Canadian neurological provincial referral center. Method Retrospective analysis of 51 patients over a 3.5 year period was performed and data were collected on patient demographics, date of event and time to evaluation by the epileptologist, evaluations completed, treatments initiated and patient outcomes. Results We found that most patients were seen by the epileptologist within 6 months, there was only a 9% discrepancy in final diagnoses between the epileptologist and the referring physician, and there were no fatalities or serious complications in the patients we studied. However, a few patients waited very long periods before imaging and evaluation by the epileptologist, and restrictions on driving privileges were recommended in only 3% of the patients. Conclusions We conclude that the referral process for a first unprovoked seizure is timely. Primary care providers need further education with regards to the consequences of seizures and some areas of the referral region need better access to imaging and epileptologists.
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.rights© 2012 the Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/).
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
dc.subjectSeizures
dc.subjectEpilepsy
dc.subjectsingle seizure
dc.subjectfirst seizure
dc.subjectwait times
dc.subjectEEG
dc.subjectrisk prediction
dc.titleSingle Unprovoked Seizure: Wait Time to Full Medical Assessment, Does It Matter?
dc.typeJournal Article
dc.identifier.legacyfulltexthttps://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1035&context=neurol_bull&unstamped=1
dc.identifier.legacycoverpagehttps://escholarship.umassmed.edu/neurol_bull/vol4/iss1/1
dc.legacy.embargo2012-05-27T00:00:00-07:00
dc.identifier.contextkey2918312
refterms.dateFOA2022-08-23T16:33:21Z
html.description.abstract<p><strong>Introduction</strong> Single unprovoked seizures occur in about 4% of the population and they have significant psychosocial consequences for the patients and their families. Little information is available on the timeliness and safety of assessment of first unprovoked seizures. In this study, we review the timeliness of the referral and evaluation of patients with first unprovoked seizure in a Canadian neurological provincial referral center.</p> <p><strong>Method</strong> Retrospective analysis of 51 patients over a 3.5 year period was performed and data were collected on patient demographics, date of event and time to evaluation by the epileptologist, evaluations completed, treatments initiated and patient outcomes.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong> We found that most patients were seen by the epileptologist within 6 months, there was only a 9% discrepancy in final diagnoses between the epileptologist and the referring physician, and there were no fatalities or serious complications in the patients we studied. However, a few patients waited very long periods before imaging and evaluation by the epileptologist, and restrictions on driving privileges were recommended in only 3% of the patients.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong> We conclude that the referral process for a first unprovoked seizure is timely. Primary care providers need further education with regards to the consequences of seizures and some areas of the referral region need better access to imaging and epileptologists.</p>
dc.identifier.submissionpathneurol_bull/vol4/iss1/1


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© 2012 the Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/).
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as © 2012 the Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/).