Families' Perception of Classic Ketogenic Diet Management in Acute Medical Conditions: A Web-Based Survey.
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Abstract |
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To describe families' experiences in managing epileptic patients undergoing ketogenic dietary therapies (KDTs) in acute medical settings. 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. 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. 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. |
Year of Publication |
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2020
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Journal |
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Nutrients
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Volume |
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12
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Issue |
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10
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Date Published |
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2020
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URL |
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https://www.mdpi.com/resolver?pii=nu12102920
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DOI |
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10.3390/nu12102920
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Short Title |
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Nutrients
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