Adapting evidence-based practice guidelines for emergency management of seizures in children beyond the neonatal period

Rationale The presented evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) is proposed as a National CPG where we adapted the international recommendations for the emergency management of seizures in children beyond the neonatal period to suit the healthcare in Egypt. The quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations are indicated. Aim This study aimed to standardize the treatment of acute epileptic seizures and to provide an easy-to-apply acute treatment protocol that will allow immediate and appropriate seizure control. Methods This is part of a larger program by the Egyptian Pediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee (EPG) in collaboration with the staff of pediatric departments of 15 Egyptian universities and a national research center. EPG was affiliated later to the Supreme Council of the Egyptian University Hospitals aiming to define the topics of, assign authors to, and assist in the adaptation of Pediatric evidence-based CPGs according to a national strategic plan (http://epg.edu.eg). The committee is guided by a formal CPG adaptation methodology: the ‘Adapted ADAPTE’. Results The Egyptian Childhood Seizure Group (ECSG) reviewed the results of the AGREE II assessment and decided to adapt the recommendations of three Source CPGs: American Epilepsy Society, Italian League Against Epilepsy, Neurocritical Care Society, and Neurologic & Psychiatric Society of Zambia. Eight implementation tools were included. A comprehensive set of multifaceted CPG implementation strategies was provided for the clinicians, patients, nurses, and other relevant stakeholders contextualized to the national settings. Conclusion Our experience with this adaptation methodology provides useful insight into its national utilization in Egypt.