ObjectiveTo explore the real experiences of women of childbearing age with epilepsy during their reproductive decision-making process, and to provide a basis for clinical practitioners in managing the reproductive decision-making of this group of women and implementing decision support. MethodsSixteen women of childbearing age with epilepsy who were hospitalized in the Epilepsy Center of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical Universityi in Beijing from April 2024 to June 2024 were selected through purposive sampling. The Colaizzi phenomenological data analysis method was employed, and the data were organized and analyzed with the aid of Nvivo 11.0 software to extract themes. ResultsThree themes and eight sub-themes were extracted: The majority of patients had reproductive demands (personal role expectations, family and social pressure), Uncertainties in reproductive behaviors and outcomes (uncertainties in the pregnancy process caused by the disease, uncertainties in the reproductive outcome caused by the disease), and Encountering reproductive decision-making predicaments (lack of professional knowledge, conflicting information from different channels, multiple factors influencing reproductive decision-making, and various negative experiences associated with decision-making). ConclusionThe majority of women of childbearing age with epilepsy have reproductive needs and encounter decision-making predicaments. Medical staff should pay attention to their true experiences, offer adequate support and assistance, and help patients extricate themselves from the decision-making predicament to make scientific and rational decisions.
According to their seizure patterns and EEG findings, status epilepticus can be divided into convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). Patients with NCSE have well-established EEG abnormalities without typical convulsive convulsions and only altered mental status or mild motor symptoms. Due to its atypical clinical symptoms, NCSE is prone to delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, or missed diagnosis, resulting in irreversible brain tissue damage, severe impairment of consciousness, function, and behavior, and even death in NCSE patients. It is of great significance to actively prevent seizures, identify symptoms early, and standardize treatment to improve the prognosis of NCSE patients. At present, there is no relevant standard and consensus on NCSE diagnosis and care. Here, we reported a patient with NCSE who admitted to the Epilepsy Center of Beijing Tiantan Hospital on June 21, 2024. After precise treatment and nursing, the patient's symptoms were well controlled, his condition was stable, and he was followed up for 1 month after discharge, and the prognosis was good. This case report aimed to provide some clinical suggestions to related disease.