Public Notification of Completion of a Seizure Research Study in Milwaukee County
(RAMPART)

Research to study the effectiveness of two different methods of applying two different anti-seizure medications for severe or prolonged seizures given by Milwaukee County paramedics has completed enrollment in Milwaukee County on January 8, 2011.

From June 2009 to January 2011, a total of 893 patients with prolonged seizures were enrolled in locations throughout the United States. Milwaukee County was one of these study sites where the research was performed by Milwaukee County Paramedics and researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The goal of treatment was stopping seizure activity prior to arrival at the emergency department. RAMPART compared the 2 drugs, midazolam and lorazepam. The midazolam was administered via an autoinjector into the muscle without having to start an intravenous line, which can take precious minutes. The lorazepam was injected into the vein via an IV line. IV medicine has previously been considered the best treatment.

The study results showed that 73 percent of patients in the group receiving intra-muscular (IM) midazolam were seizure-free upon arrival at the hospital, compared to 63 percent of patients who received IV lorazepam. Patients treated with midazolam were also less likely to require hospitalization and admission to an intensive care unit than those receiving IV lorazepam.

A total of 47 patients were enrolled in the study in Milwaukee County. Twenty-seven (57%) of the 47 patients were female and 20 (43%) were male. Sixteen (34%) were Caucasian, 30 (64%) were African American, and 1 (2%) was Hispanic.

For additional information, please call Dr. Tom Aufderheide at (414) 805-2572 or via email at taufderh@mcw.edu.

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