About The Webinar
Emergency management of seizures and status epilepticus
Status epilepticus (SE) is a common emergency in dogs and cats and may be the first manifestation of a seizure disorder. SE is defined as seizure activity that lasts for more than 5 minutes, or the occurrence of 2 or more seizures without recovery of consciousness. SE results from the failure of termination of an isolated seizure and can cause long term and potentially fatal damage to the brain and body. The goals of treatment of SE include stopping seizure activity, systemically stabilising the patient, preventing further seizures, and management of underlying conditions causing seizure activity. Effective management is dependent on obtaining a clear history, performing a comprehensive physical and neurological examination with prioritised assessment of airway, breathing, and circulation. There is no standardised evidence-based approach to treatment of these patients but in this lecture we will try to provide a framework for the administration of anti-seizure medication to rapidly stop seizures and protect the brain from ongoing damage.
