eprintid: 39805 rev_number: 66 eprint_status: archive userid: 608 dir: disk0/00/03/98/05 datestamp: 2010-10-15 11:43:56 lastmod: 2020-02-12 23:28:32 status_changed: 2010-10-15 11:43:56 type: article metadata_visibility: show item_issues_count: 0 creators_name: Wilmshurst, JM creators_name: van Toorn, R creators_name: Newton, CRJC title: Withdrawal of parenteral phenobarbitone - Implications for resource-poor countries ispublished: pub divisions: UCL note: Work published in the journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - Noncommercial 3.0 Unported Works License (CC BY-NC 3.0). abstract: Parenteral phenobarbitone is an integral part of the management of status epilepticus, especially in the context of resource-poor countries. It is highly effective at controlling seizures. It is safe, cheap, can be given by rapid intravenous push or intramuscular route, boluses can be repeated, and it is recommended as part of the Advanced Paediatric Life Support guidelines. The proposed alternatives lack efficacy, practicality and/or place the child in status epilepticus at risk of respiratory compromise. The impact of the loss of parenteral phenobarbitone would be increased cardiac complications, lack of early seizure control, prolonged seizures resulting in brain damage and systemic complications. Increased numbers of patients will require artificial ventilation in centres without facilities, and centres with facilities will be unable to cope with the load of ventilated patients because of lack of safe transport systems and bed space. date: 2005-06 official_url: http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/index oa_status: green full_text_type: pub language: eng primo: open primo_central: open_green verified: verified_manual elements_source: Scopus elements_id: 69321 lyricists_name: Newton, Charles lyricists_id: CNEWT91 full_text_status: public publication: South African Medical Journal volume: 95 number: 6 pagerange: 422 -423 issn: 0256-9574 citation: Wilmshurst, JM; van Toorn, R; Newton, CRJC; (2005) Withdrawal of parenteral phenobarbitone - Implications for resource-poor countries. South African Medical Journal , 95 (6) 422 -423. Green open access document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/39805/1/Wilmshurst_Withdrawl_SAMJ_2005.pdf