Review of the efficacy of rectal paraldehyde in the management of acute and prolonged tonic-clonic convulsions.
Arch Dis Child
; 94(9): 720-3, 2009 Sep.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19357123
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The aim of this prospective audit was to assess the effectiveness and safety of rectal paraldehyde in the management of acute, including prolonged, tonic-clonic convulsions. There are very limited published data on its effectiveness and safety, and previous data have focused on its intramuscular route of administration.METHODS:
Four hospitals participated in the study. Information was collected on each dose of paraldehyde used for the treatment of a tonic-clonic convulsion over 1 year. Data were not included on patients treated with rectal paraldehyde for other seizure types or non-convulsive status epilepticus.RESULTS:
Data analysis was undertaken regarding 53 episodes in 30 patients. Patient's ages ranged from 5 months to 16 years (mean 6.12 years, median 5.91 years). A pre-existing diagnosis of epilepsy was recorded in 35 episodes (66%). The mean dose of paraldehyde was 0.65 ml/kg (SD 0.22, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.71) and median dose 0.79 ml/kg. Rectal paraldehyde terminated the convulsion in 33 (62.3%) of the 53 episodes. In the 35 episodes where a pre-existing diagnosis of epilepsy was recorded, paraldehyde stopped the convulsion on 26 (74.3%) occasions. There was no difference in the dose of paraldehyde between the episodes where the convulsion was or was not terminated. There was no recorded respiratory depression in any episode.CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides unique evidence that rectal paraldehyde is effective and safe in treating acute prolonged tonic-clonic convulsions. This would appear to confirm that paraldehyde should remain a treatment for the management of prolonged tonic-clonic convulsions, including convulsive status epilepticus.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Paraldehído
/
Epilepsia Tónico-Clónica
/
Auditoría Médica
/
Anticonvulsivantes
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
/
Observational_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Child
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Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Arch Dis Child
Año:
2009
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido