Abstracts

Rationale: We set out to gather data to evaluate the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) experience, determine the incidence of complications during an EMU stay for various seizure types, and the consistency with which we provide safety and preventive instructions.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients admitted through our epilepsy monitoring unit during the months of June 2014 through April 2014 when an epileptologist was the attending physician of record. We collected gender, age, length of EMU stay (LOS), and complications during the EMU stay. Routine safety instructions include driving, water safety, etc. Instructions specific for women include medication interactions with oral contraceptives and folic acid supplementation. The data elements collected were entered into a spreadsheet.Results: We collected data on all 69 patients admitted through our EMU during an 11-month period (female=42, male=27). The average age of our population was 39.4 years. The average length of stay in our EMU was 7 days (minimum=2, maximum=31). There were no complications for 64 patients. There were complications for 5 patients. No complications resulted in injuries. One patient was helped to the floor while standing during a seizure; two patients had mild skin irritation from EEG electrodes; one patient had a ""pseudofall""; one sequential compression device (SCD) used for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis malfunctioned and caught on fire. See Table 1 for seizure classifications. Instruction on driving, water safety, and heights was documented in the medical record on 69 patients (100%). There were 17 women with childbearing potential discharged on AEDs. Recommendations for folic acid supplementation were documented in the record for 16 women (94%) and no documentation of folic acid instruction was documented on 1 woman (6%). Six women taking enzyme-inducing AEDs were counseled to use high-strength oral contraceptives (100%).Conclusions: We had five complications and no injuries in our small EMU population. The only major complication was the SCD that malfunctioned and caught on fire. In our relatively small population group, the safety protocols we have in place to prevent complications are working well. We are consistently providing safety instruction and recommendations for women of childbearing age. We will continue to collect data in our EMU.