TY - JOUR
T1 - Families' Perception of Classic Ketogenic Diet Management in Acute Medical Conditions
T2 - A Web-Based Survey
AU - Pasca, Ludovica
AU - Varesio, Costanza
AU - Ferraris, Cinzia
AU - Guglielmetti, Monica
AU - Trentani, Claudia
AU - Tagliabue, Anna
AU - Veggiotti, Pierangelo
AU - De Giorgis, Valentina
PY - 2020/9/24
Y1 - 2020/9/24
N2 - Objective: To describe families' experiences in managing epileptic patients undergoing ketogenic dietary therapies (KDTs) in acute medical settings. Methods: We conducted a short online survey addressed to the families of patients undergoing a classic ketogenic diet (cKD) for at least three months. The survey was composed of 18 questions exploring the following issues: demographic characteristics, epilepsy diagnosis, ketogenic-diet treatment history, the reason for emergency-ward admission and patient management, surgery-procedure management, and outcomes. Results: A sample of 50 families agreed to participate. Out of 50 patients, 33 (66%) had been undergoing a cKD for more than two years. Fifteen (30%) patients had been admitted at least once to the Emergency Room (ER), and 8.2% had undergone surgical procedures during cKD treatment. The causes of ER admission were the following: seizures, infection, trauma, and gastrointestinal or respiratory problems. In 75% of cases, blood ketonemia was not monitored during ER admission, and according to 46% of responders, the medical staff intervening did not have a basic knowledge of KDTs. Conclusions: According to both our experience and caregivers' reports, it might be useful to search for standardized specific approaches to patients undergoing KDTs in the emergency setting.
AB - Objective: To describe families' experiences in managing epileptic patients undergoing ketogenic dietary therapies (KDTs) in acute medical settings. Methods: We conducted a short online survey addressed to the families of patients undergoing a classic ketogenic diet (cKD) for at least three months. The survey was composed of 18 questions exploring the following issues: demographic characteristics, epilepsy diagnosis, ketogenic-diet treatment history, the reason for emergency-ward admission and patient management, surgery-procedure management, and outcomes. Results: A sample of 50 families agreed to participate. Out of 50 patients, 33 (66%) had been undergoing a cKD for more than two years. Fifteen (30%) patients had been admitted at least once to the Emergency Room (ER), and 8.2% had undergone surgical procedures during cKD treatment. The causes of ER admission were the following: seizures, infection, trauma, and gastrointestinal or respiratory problems. In 75% of cases, blood ketonemia was not monitored during ER admission, and according to 46% of responders, the medical staff intervening did not have a basic knowledge of KDTs. Conclusions: According to both our experience and caregivers' reports, it might be useful to search for standardized specific approaches to patients undergoing KDTs in the emergency setting.
U2 - 10.3390/nu12102920
DO - 10.3390/nu12102920
M3 - Article
C2 - 32987704
VL - 12
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
SN - 2072-6643
IS - 10
ER -