Over- and underreporting of seizures: How big is the problem?

Objective: Clinical decisions on managing epilepsy patients rely on patient accuracy regarding seizure reporting. Studies have noted disparities between patient-reported seizures and electroencephalographic (EEG) findings during video-EEG monitoring periods, chiefly highlighting underreporting of seizures, a well-recognized phenomenon. However, seizure overreporting is a significant problem discussed within the literature, although not in such a large cohort.

Ambulatory video EEG extended to 10 days: A retrospective review of a large database of ictal events.

Objective: This work aims to determine the ambulatory video electroencephalography monitoring (AVEM) duration and number of captured seizures required to resolve different clinical questions, using a retrospective review of ictal recordings.

Methods: Patients who underwent home-based AVEM had event data analyzed retrospectively. Studies were grouped by clinical indication: differential diagnosis, seizure type classification, or treatment assessment.

Rates of event capture of home video EEG.

Objective: Recording electrographic and behavioral information during epileptic and other paroxysmal events is important during video electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring. This study was undertaken to measure the event capture rate of an home service operating across Australia using a shoulder-worn EEG device and telescopic pole-mounted camera.

Methods: Neurologist reports were accessed retrospectively.

The success of our patient blood management program depended on an institution-wide change in transfusion practices.

Background: Patient blood management (PBM) programs seek to optimize the utilization of blood components. Since our institution's program started, the annual number of red blood cell (RBC) units transfused has decreased by 27% overall.

Study Design And Methods: We collected data for 6 months in 2007 (pre-PBM) compared with the same months in 2011 (post-PBM) to determine which changes in practice decreased RBC utilization.

Trauma blood management: avoiding the collateral damage of trauma resuscitation protocols.

The use of high ratios of red blood cells to platelets and plasma in trauma resuscitation protocols is quickly gaining favor in civilian trauma centers. The use of higher ratios of coagulation factors to red blood cells has been shown to improve outcomes in both military and civilian centers, but does the evidence support the use of a 1:1:1 ratio, as has been suggested? There is growing evidence that the use of such high ratios may be excessive and potentially harmful, and there has not been enough emphasis on the other components of evidence-based "damage control" resuscitation.

Blood management: a primer for clinicians.

Blood transfusions are common in the hospital setting. Despite the large commitment of resources to the delivery of blood components, many clinicians have only a vague understanding of the complexities associated with blood management and transfusion therapy. The purpose of this primer is to broaden the awareness of health care practitioners in terms of the risks versus benefits of blood transfusions, their economics, and alternative treatments.

A blood-conservation algorithm to reduce blood transfusions after total hip and knee arthroplasty.

Background: Donation of autologous blood before total joint arthroplasty is inconvenient and costly, causes a phlebotomy-induced anemia, and may be wasteful and unnecessary for the nonanemic patient. We developed a blood-conservation algorithm that does not require predonation of autologous blood, employs selective use of epoetin alfa, and uses evidence-based transfusion criteria. Our hypothesis was that use of this algorithm would reduce the rate of transfusion after unilateral total hip and knee arthroplasty as compared with the rates described in previous reports.

The effects of autologous platelet gel on wound healing.

Laser resurfacing techniques have become a popular means of achieving rejuvenation of damaged skin. Interest is great in attempting to speed re-epithelialization and healing so that patients can return to their normal activities as quickly as possible. Previous studies have demonstrated that wounds heal more quickly when they are covered and kept moist than when they are left open to the air.