Epilepsy 911: A Special Event at the 2016 ASET Annual Conference

This is a first time ever, community service event, hosted by ASET, to take place in conjunction with the ASET 2016 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.  We are offering a 4 hour educational session for Emergency Service Personnel: EMTs and First Responders, on the topic of urgent care for epilepsy patients.  Neurodiagnostic technologists are also invited to attend, and CEUs will be offered to both EMTs and technologists.

Because Neurodiagnostic Techs really care about their patients and because we work so closely with epilepsy patients, we understand many of the challenges they face.  We know how important it is for the urgent intervention of seizures to be conducted correctly.  Bystanders, family and the first responders have to recognize the event as a seizure, and begin appropriate treatment.  It is not always easy to recognize a seizure that includes atypical symptoms, or pediatric seizures such as infantile spasms.  Appropriate treatment must be started quickly.  Complications and co-morbidities can become life-threatening.  Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy is not well known, even in the medical community!  We, as technolgists, often do the first EEG in the E.R. and  monitor bedside EEG for epilepsy patients who are in a compromised state following severe seizures, so we really want to see every patient get the best care possible as soon as possible.

We have invited the EMTs in the Pittsburgh area, and nearby West Virginia, to come to this session on Wed. Aug. 17^th, from 1:00-5:00 p.m., the day before the ASET annual conference begins.

We have four very interesting and informational presentations scheduled, and expert speakers lined up.
For technologists: you can register for this event via the ASET meeting registration form.

For EMTs: please contact me at faye@aset.org to register for this event.

The full schedule and lecture descriptions follow:

Course schedule:

1:00 -2:00 p.m.    Recognizing and Classifying Seizures and non-Epileptic Events that Resemble Seizures
                               Maria Baldwin, M.D.

Delivery method:  Lecture to include videos of various seizures recorded in the Long Term Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, as well as non-epileptic events.  Handout: seizure classification and symptoms

Learning objectives:

·        list the major categories of seizures according to the International Classification of Seizures

·        recognize symptoms of all seizure types common to adult patients

·        differentiate seizures from non-epileptic events which may resemble seizures

·        consider factors that may have contributed to the seizure

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.   Pediatric and Neonatal Seizures – An Overview of Symptoms and Causes
                                Elia Pestana Knight, M.D.

Delivery method:  Lecture to include videos of pediatric and neonatal seizures and a description of seizure symptoms, and an overview of pediatric epilepsy syndromes.  Handout: pediatric epileptic syndromes, neonatal seizure symptoms

Learning objectives:

·        name the seizure disorders and epileptic syndromes that occur in childhood

·        recognize the subtle seizure symptoms of the neonate

·        recognize life-threatening events and contributing factors to seizures

3:00- 3:15 p.m.    Break

3:15 – 4:15 p.m.   Complications of Seizures: Status Epilepticus, Post-ictal state, Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, Medical and Social Consequences – James Valeriano, M.D.

Delivery mechanism: Lecture to include definitions of complications, examples, case studies, and handout to include these definitions.

Learning objectives:

·        Define parameters of status epilepticus and recognize this life-threatening situation

·        Recognize features of the post-ictal state

·        List factors that contribute to SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy)

·        Name various co-morbidities that occur as a result of epilepsy

·        Develop an awareness of the social implications of epilepsy and how the patient and family may react to the occurrence of seizures, and that non-compliance with anti-convulsant drug regimen may contribute to breakthrough seizures and atypical seizures.

4:15-5:15 p.m.   Assessment of Seizures and Current Trends in Emergency Management of Seizures
                              Jayant N. Acharya, MD, DM, FANA

Delivery mechanism: lecture, video examples of seizure assessment, case studies, handout with tips for assessing and documenting seizure activity

Learning objectives:

·        List methods to assess patient alertness and ability to respond

·        Develop skills to document a wide variety of seizure symptoms through astute patient observation

·        Determine which standard treatment options are appropriate for age, seizure type and other contributing factors

·        Discuss future assessment techniques that may be offered in the pre-hospital environment, such as EEG monitoring with telemetry