Adult Seizure disorders Flashcards
Seizure?
Episode of abnormally synchronized and high frequency firing of neurons resulting in abnormal behavior or experience
Epilepsy?
Chronic brain disorder of various etiologies characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures
Causes of adult onset epileptic seizures?
Cerebrovascular disease Trauma Tumors Infections Cerebral degeneration
Types of partial seizures?
Simple
Complex
Secondarily generalized
Is consciousness preserved in simple partial seizures?
Yes
Is consciousness preserved in complex partial seizures?
No
Characteristics of secondarily generalized?
Consciousness lost
Bilateral cerebral involvement
Characteristics of simple partial seizures?
Consciousness is intact
EEG may appear normal
Auras are brief
Signs/symptoms of simple partial seizures depend on?
Focus
- Motor (Jacksonian)
- Somatosensory
- Autonomic
- Psychic
What is a Jacksonian march?
A focal seizure that starts distally and marches proximally on the same side
Seen in simple partial seizures emanating from motor cortex
How do somatosensory partial seizures present?
Focus on the sensory cortex
Tingling and numbness of an extremity or side of face
Autonomic partial simple seizures present?
Rising epigastric sensations, nausea
Psychic partial simple seizures present?
Sensations of fear
Deja vu
Jamais vu
Characteristics of complex partial seizures?
Impaied consciousness Lasts about 1 minute Blank stare Oral/Ipsilateral hand automatisms Contralateral dystonic posturing Amnesia for ictal event Focal abnormality on routine EEG
Where do complex partial seizures typically emanate from?
Temporal or frontal lobes
What are typical hand automatisms?
Hand rubbing and picking movements
What are oral automatisms?
Chewing and lip smacking movements
What does contralateral dystonic posturing result from?
Spread of seizure activity from the temporal lobe to the ipsilateral basal ganglia
Types of Primary generalized seizures?
Absence (Petit Mal) Tonic-clonic Clonic Tonic Myoclonic Atonic
Pathogenesis of primary generalized seizures?
Arise from deep structures within the brain and spread synchroniously toward cerebral hemispheres
Characteristics of Absence Seizure?
Brief (10-20 secs) loss of consciousness
Staring spell
NO post-ictal confusion
Subtle myoclonic movement, eyelid flutter
NO baseline neurologic defictis
Baseline EEG may show generalized 3 Hz spike - wave discharge
What is pathognomonic for absence seizures?
Baseline EEG may show generalized 3 Hz spike - wave discharges