Challenges in the first seizure clinic for adult patients with epilepsy

Abstract

Aims. (1) To delineate the challenges in seizure diagnosis in the first seizure clinic setting for adult patients of a teaching hospital, and (2) quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the referral source and the yield of routine investigations, including blood tests, EEGs, and neuroimaging. Methods.We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients referred by theemergency department to the adult first seizure clinic and seen by the same epilepsy specialist between June 2007 and June 2011. The diagnostic accuracy in the emergency department was calculated by comparing with the final diagnosis made by an epilepsy specialist. Results. In total, 219 patientswere referred to the first seizure..