Seizure Management Clinical Resource Guide

Seizure management can be challenging in any patient population, but especially in the hospice patient, who is often without IV access and in the home or facility setting. While rare for a patient to have a seizure, it is a serious complication when experienced, requiring an action plan to address. The incidence of seizures in the hospice setting is unknown, but literature from the palliative care setting suggests up to 13% of patients may experience the condition, with 25-50% of these patients with a brain neoplasm. However, the prevalence of seizure activity in patients with a brain primary cancer is dependent upon diagnosis, as slow growing types (oligodendroglioma, low-grade astrocytoma) tend present with more seizure activity (70-100% of patients) as compared to more aggressive glioblastoma (10-20%). This Pharmacist Corner was designed to serve as a guide to help support hospice teams prepare for and effectively manage seizure disorder in their patient populations.... Download Full PDF