European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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Comparative Study
Electroencephalographic findings in consecutive emergency department patients with altered mental status: a preliminary report.
Electroencephalography (EEG) can help narrow the differential diagnosis of altered mental status (AMS) and is necessary to diagnose nonconvulsive seizure (NCS). The objective of this prospective observational study is to identify the prevalence of EEG abnormalities in emergency department patients with AMS. Patients of at least 13 years of age with AMS were enrolled, whereas those with an easily identifiable cause (e.g. hypoglycemia) underlying their AMS were excluded. ⋯ NCS was diagnosed in three (6%, 1-17%), including one patient in nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Nine patients (18%, 10-31%) had interictal epileptiform abnormalities, indicating an increased risk of spontaneous seizure. Patients presenting to the emergency department with AMS have a high prevalence of EEG abnormalities, including NCS.
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French emergency medicine (EM) has undergone rapid changes with the establishment of a diploma in emergency medicine (DES). We aimed to question medicine students on their knowledge of and apprehensions regarding this new DES. We conducted an email cross-sectional survey among second-cycle medical students before their choice of resident speciality. ⋯ Seventy-six per cent of students considered it tough to practice as an entire career. This study clearly shows that EM represents an attractive option for medical students. The establishment of DES represents a major step in the improvement of EM.