The Effect of Exchange Breathing Method First Aid on Status Epilepticus Seizures
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1
Institute of Neurophysiological Psychology, United Kingdom
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2
British Nutrition Foundation, United Kingdom
Purpose:
To assess the efficacy of the Exchange Breathing Method on the occurrence of status epilepticus seizures.
The Exchange Breathing Method (EBM) is an emergency seizure recovery method whereby an outward breath is administered by a first aider into the subject’s nose during a seizure 2.
Status Epilepticus (SE) is a life-threatening neurological condition defined as 5 or more minutes of either continuous seizure activity or repetitive seizures without regaining consciousness.
CO2 has been previously shown to have anti-convulsant effects 3,4
Rodent and reptilian models indicate the olfactory nerve has a chemo-receptor function for CO2 detection 5, 6. Situated in the nasal cavity, the olfactory bulb leads to the hypothalamus region of the brain responsible for the autonomous processes such as breathing.
Method
Figure 1: One of several ways to administer EBM First Aid 3
To administer EBM, one simply breathes an outward breath into the nose of the subject. In this case it appeared to help if the subject’s head was tilted back so the mouth is slightly open (however, others using the method do not always do this); and it is hindered by unfavourable positioning or a blocked nose.
Results
Figure 2: Our subject L’s seizures activity with EBM 3
Our subject (L) had a history of SE. EBM was first applied to our subject in January 2016. Whilst L was on the ketogenic diet alone, seizure length at the time was typically 12 minutes. Whilst the occurrence of multiple seizures on a given day increased, seizure length decreased by 92% on average.
In the 28 instances that EBM was administered during seizures, the least number of breaths from a caregiver to stop a seizure was 1 and the most was 10 - typically it took 3 breaths.
On the last occasion recorded, EBM was not applied initially however in the 4th minute when it was applied, the seizure stopped within 1 minute, thus stopping the occurrence of SE.
Conclusions
In this case study, EBM stops seizures at least 3 times faster than diazepam. With EBM, L has also been less drowsy post-seizure and general recovery has been faster and mood is better.
Notes
As EBM can be used any time, it is easily incorporated within most patients’ existing protocols which is usually to wait for 5 minutes before applying rescue medication. EBM can be used as soon as a seizure begins.
References
1 Leafie Health - leafie.org
2 Gemma Herbertson, Bernhard Rohrbeck - ‘Exchange Breathing Method’ Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/EBMfirstaid/
3 The role of carbon dioxide in the enhancement of oxygen delivery to the brain – Coralee Thompson M.D.; Denise Malkowicz (Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Epilepsy – Oren Devinsky et al 2005)
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3017646/
5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20696215
6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2822784
Keywords:
seizure,
First Aid,
emergency,
Status Epilepticus,
Exchange Breathing Method,
Anti-convulsant,
Carbon Dioxide,
CO2,
Carbogen
Conference:
International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience, Orlando, United States, 24 May - 26 May, 2019.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Clinical Neuroscience
Citation:
Herbertson
G,
Liu
J and
McDonnell Liu
C
(2019). The Effect of Exchange Breathing Method First Aid on Status Epilepticus Seizures.
Front. Neurol.
Conference Abstract:
International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fneur.2019.62.00020
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Received:
01 Apr 2019;
Published Online:
27 Sep 2019.
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Correspondence:
Miss. Gemma Herbertson, Institute of Neurophysiological Psychology, Chester, United Kingdom, gemmaherbertson@hotmail.com