Abstract found on PubMed
Purpose: To ascertain the rates of 30-day readmissions and emergency department presentations among pediatric patients with an index admission for functional seizures.
Method: A retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with an index discharge from the pediatric epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) or general neurology service for functional seizures. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, risk factors, and treatment during the index admission.
Results: A total of one hundred and two patients were included, of which nearly one in five had a 30-day readmission or emergency department presentation. Index admission to the general neurology service was independently associated with more re-presentations to the hospital (t = 3.26, p < 0.0015). The univariate analysis indicated that cognitive impairment and autism were associated with a lower likelihood of readmission, while a neurology referral and being started on an anti-seizure medication were associated with a greater likelihood of readmission.
Conclusion: A substantial proportion of pediatric patients with functional seizures return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. Our data suggest that patients admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit (Emu) service have a lower likelihood of readmission. We speculate that this may be due to differences in patient clinical characteristics as well as the comprehensiveness of the diagnostic evaluation and management in the EMU compared to the general neurology service.