Citation

Holland RW, Marx JA, Earnest MP, Ranniger S. Ann. Emerg. Med. 1992; 21(7): 772-776.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, Denver General Hospital, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

Comment In:

Ann Emerg Med 1993;22(4):758

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, American College of Emergency Physicians, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1610031

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the appropriate diagnostic workup of the emergency department patient with an uncomplicated cocaine-related grand mal seizure. DESIGN SETTING: Retrospective analysis. A city and county ED with 45,000 selected visits per year. TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-seven patients with acute grand mal seizure after cocaine exposure were studied. All had historical or laboratory evidence of cocaine use and no history of prior seizure disorder. INTERVENTIONS: The diagnostic workup varied among patients. Most received computed head tomography (35), whereas fewer received-ECG (18), EEG (16), and lumbar puncture (six). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with an uncomplicated cocaine-related seizure had an unremarkable series of diagnostic tests. The four patients with remarkable neurologic manifestations were compared with the remainder of patients who were without neurologic abnormalities. Comparison of groups by route of cocaine intake revealed no significant difference in the time interval to seizure (P = .761). CONCLUSION: Diagnostic workup probably is not indicated for the patient experiencing a cocaine-related generalized seizure who will recover promptly and have a normal postictal examination.

Language: en