Benzodiazepines for Status Epilepticus? Skip the IV!

A meta-analysis found that seizures were controlled more quickly when benzodiazepines were administered via non-intravenous routes, due mostly to the time necessary to place an IV line.

Benzodiazepines remain the first-line treatment for patients in status epilepticus. However, administering them via intravenous (IV) line obviously requires the placement of said line, which can lead to delays. In both the prehospital and emergency department settings, where IV access has yet to be established, other routes of administration are often used. These researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing IV benzodiazepines with non-IV benzodiazepines (administered buccally, rectally, intranasally, or intramuscularly), focusing on failure rates, time to seizure control, and complications.

A total of 11 studies (with a combined total of 1633 patients, both children and adults) were included in the meta-an…

Reviewing Author

Ali S. Raja, MD, MBA, MPH

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Board Member); American College of Healthcare Executives – Massachusetts (Board Member)

Ali S. Raja, MD, MBA, MPH

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Board Member); American College of Healthcare Executives – Massachusetts (Board Member)

Benzodiazepines for Status Epilepticus? Skip the IV!

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Reviewing Author