5.1 and 5.1 Epilepsy and management

Question 1

to see or not to see in epilepsy clinic- pt on SSRI

Answer 1

YES

1/3 epilepsy pts have depression, most likely cause of death in epilepsy is suicide

Question 2

what Ix is mandatory in epilepsy clinic?

Answer 2

ECG- cardiac problems can present as seizure

Question 3

who should get a CT scan acutely?

Answer 3

• clinical or radiological skull fracture
• deteriorating GCS
• focal signs
• head injury with seizure
• failure to be GCS 15/15 after 4 hours of arrival
• suggestion of other pathology- eg SAH
• if you thinkt hres an underlying brain problem causing the seizure- that’s when you do a CT Scan
• if they’re sitting up talking to you fine then they can go home

Question 4

what are the indications for an EEG?

Answer 4

o Classification of epilepsy
o Confirmation of non-epileptic attacks
o Surgical evaluation
o Confirmation of non-convulsive status