Prehospital seizure management protocols need standardized guidelines. A descriptive study from Norway

Background

Patients with convulsive seizures constitute a significant group in acute neurology. No common European clinical practice guidelines on prehospital seizure management exist, and today most patients are brought to hospital for seizure treatment, with great variation in which prehospital treatment is provided. Only 33 % of status epilepticus patients receive a benzodiazepine as first anti-seizure medication (ASM). The aim of this study is to assess the prehospital seizure control protocols in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Norway, and compare these with current evidence for acute management.

Method

We performed a descriptive analysis of the 18 regional EMS protocols in Norway and compared the findings with recent evidence on prehospital treatment. We analysed recommended drug and dosage, route of medication administration, number of additional rescue doses permitted, requirements for registration of type of seizures and seizure duration.

Results

The protocols vary in terms of preferred medication, administration method, dosage and recommendations regarding first- and second-line therapies. 33 % of protocols explicitly define status epilepticus according to contemporary guidelines, and 16.7 % have an operational definition of when to administer benzodiazepines. All protocols showed variations in dosing and administration instructions and only 28 % had a clearly stated first line treatment.

Conclusion

There are disparities in the prehospital seizure management protocols within the Norwegian healthcare system, a system comparable to other European countries. To improve seizure management there is a need for standardised guidelines for prehospital treatment.