Risk of adverse events on epilepsy monitoring units: A survey of epilepsy professionals

Developing a culture of safety in the epilepsy monitoring unit: A retrospective study of safety outcomes

“…These findings led the AES Expert Consensus Panel on patient safety in the EMU to call for the development of EMU patient safety standards [9]. A workgroup subsequently convened by the AES sought to determine the prevalence of adverse events occurring in EMU patients; their survey of AES members showed falls (69%), SE (63%), and postictal psychosis (54%) to be the most common events identified by survey respondents [4]. A recent study of adverse events in one EMU reported that standardized protocols are needed although the actual degree of injury with falls and other events was found to be minimal [10].…”

“…Patient falls, status epilepticus (SE), and postictal psychosis have been reported as known risks and common adverse events in patients admitted to an epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) for withdrawal of anti-seizure medications and prolonged video-EEG [1][2][3][4][5]. Choking and aspiration have been confirmed as rare risks to EMU patients [6].…”

“…Choking and aspiration have been confirmed as rare risks to EMU patients [6]. Since 2008, the American Epilepsy Society (AES) has intensified its efforts to evaluate patient care and safety issues in EMUs across the United States [4]. In a recent survey of AES members, falls were identified as the most common adverse event in the EMU [4].…”

A consensus-based approach to patient safety in epilepsy monitoring units: Recommendations for preferred practices

“…While the EMU is a unique environment, it does share many risks with other hospital areas including many identified by the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals, such as falls, unsafe medication management, and incomplete or inaccurate communication between professionals [5]. Epilepsy and co-morbid conditions encountered in the EMU carry specific risks including prolonged seizures and status epilepticus [6,7], falls and physical injury [8], postictal psychosis [9,10] and, infrequently, death [11]. How often these events occur is uncertain.…”

Interprofessional simulation to improve safety in the epilepsy monitoring unit

“…While sentinel events in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) are relatively infrequent [1], injuries and death have been reported in this electively admitted group of patients [2][3][4]. There is little evidence [5], nor consensus, regarding best practices for maximizing patient safety in the EMU.…”