Phenytoin Case Study

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In patients with traumatic brain injury, is levetiracetam safe and effective in preventing post-traumatic seizures compared to phenytoin?

Background:
Post-traumatic seizures are finite episodes of brain dysfunction resulting from abnormal discharge of cerebral neurons due to brain trauma.1 They can be classified either as early or late seizures.1 Early seizures occur within one week of injury while late seizures occur after one week but within a month of traumatic stress.1 Additionally, early seizure incidence after traumatic could lead to negative consequences such as increase intracranial pressure; increase brain metabolic demands, and secondary brain injury.1
Brain trauma foundation recommends use of phenytoin as a first-line drug in the