Evidence
This page contains a snapshot of featured content which highlights evidence addressing key clinical questions including areas of uncertainty. Please see the main topic reference list for details of all sources underpinning this topic.
BMJ Best Practice evidence tables
Evidence tables provide easily navigated layers of evidence in the context of specific clinical questions, using GRADE and a BMJ Best Practice Effectiveness rating. Follow the links at the bottom of the table, which go to the related evidence score in the main topic text, providing additional context for the clinical question. Find out more about our evidence tables.
This table is a summary of the analysis reported in a Cochrane Clinical Answer that focuses on the above important clinical question.
Confidence in the evidence is very low or low where GRADE has been performed and there may be no difference in effectiveness between the intervention and comparison for key outcomes. However, this is uncertain and new evidence could change this in the future.
Population: People with traumatic head injuries admitted to an emergency department or acute trauma unit
Intervention: Anti-convulsant drugs ᵃ
Comparison: Placebo or standard care ᵃ
| Outcome | Effectiveness (BMJ rating)? | Confidence in evidence (GRADE)? |
|---|---|---|
Post‐trauma seizures: early (≤ 1 week [5 to 7 days]) | Favours intervention | Low |
Post‐trauma seizures: Late (> 1 week [2 to 24 months]) | No statistically significant difference | Very Low |
All‐cause mortality (follow‐up: 5 days to 24 months) | No statistically significant difference | Very Low |
Serious adverse events (follow‐up: 12 months) | No statistically significant difference | Low |
Non‐serious adverse events | No statistically significant difference | GRADE assessment not performed for this outcome |
Time to first seizure | - | None of the studies identified by the review assessed this outcome |
Note ᵃ This evidence table summarises the findings for the comparison of anti-convulsant drugs versus placebo or standard care, which is the main comparison as stated in the Cochrane review Summary of Findings table. See the full Cochrane Clinical Answer (CCA) for information on other comparisons (neuroprotective agent versus placebo; phenytoin versus an alternative anticonvulsant drug).
This evidence table is related to the following section/s:
Cochrane Clinical Answers
Cochrane Clinical Answers (CCAs) provide a readable, digestible, clinically focused entry point to rigorous research from Cochrane systematic reviews. They are designed to be actionable and to inform decision making at the point of care and have been added to relevant sections of the main Best Practice text.
- What are the effects of pharmacological interventions for preventing epilepsy following traumatic head injury?
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