Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Hyms year 2 > BLOCK 12 WEEK 7 > Flashcards

BLOCK 12 WEEK 7 Flashcards

1
Q

EPILEPSY

A
  • Epilepsy is a condition characterised by seizures. Seizures are transient episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

TYPES OF SEIZURES

A

-Generalised tonic-clonic seizures

  • Partial seizures (or focal seizures)
  • Myoclonic seizures

-Tonic seizures

  • Atonic seizures
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

GENERALISED TONIC- CLONIC SEIZURES

A
  • Generalised tonic-clonic seizures involve tonic (muscle tensing) and clonic (muscle jerking) movements associated with a complete loss of consciousness.
  • Typically, the tonic phase comes before the clonic phase.
  • They are also called grand mal seizures.
  • Before the seizure, patients might experience aura, an abnormal sensation that gives a warning that a seizure will occur. There may be tongue biting, incontinence, groaning and irregular breathing.
  • After the seizure, there is a prolonged post-ictal period, where the person is confused, tired, and irritable or low.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What percentage of people with epilepsy have focal seizures?

A

60% of people with epilepsy have focal seizures

60-70% of focal seizures originate in the temporal lobe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

PARTIAL/FOCAL seizures

A
  • Partial seizures (or focal seizures) occur in an isolated brain area, often in the temporal lobes.
  • They affect hearing, speech, memory and emotions. ç
  • Patients remain awake during partial seizures. They remain aware during simple partial seizures but lose awareness during complex partial seizures.

There are various symptoms associated with partial seizures, depending on the location of the abnormal electrical activity:
- Déjà vu
- Strange smells, tastes, sight or sound sensations
- Unusual emotions
- Abnormal behaviours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

MYOCLONIC SEIZURE

A
  • Present with sudden, brief muscle contractions, like an abrupt jump or jolt.
  • They remain awake.
  • Myoclonic seizures can occur as part of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in children.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

TONIC SEIZURES

A
  • Tonic seizures involve a sudden onset of INCREASED MUSCLE TONE where the entire BODY STIFFENS .
  • This results in a fall if the patient is standing, usually backwards. They last only a few seconds, or at most a few minutes.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

ATONIC SEIZURE

A
  • Atonic seizures (causing “drop attacks”) involve a SUDDEN LOSS OF MUSCLE TONE, often resulting in a fall.
  • They last only briefly, and patients are usually aware during the episodes. They often begin in childhood. They may be indicative of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

SEIZURES COMMON IN CHILDREN

A
  • Absence seizures

-Infantile spasms

  • Febrile convulsions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

ABSENCE SEIZURES

A

Absence seizures are usually seen in children.

The patient becomes blank, stares into space, and then abruptly returns to normal.

During the episode, they are unaware of their surroundings and do not respond.

These typically last 10 to 20 seconds. Most patients stop having absence seizures as they get older.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

INFANTILE SPASMS

A
  • Infantile spasms are also known as West syndrome.
  • It is a rare (1 in 4,000) disorder starting at around six months of age.
  • It presents with clusters of full-body spasms.
  • Hypsarrhythmia is the characteristic EEG finding. It is associated with developmental regression and has a poor prognosis.
  • Treatment is with ACTH and vigabatrin.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

FEBRILE CONVULSIONS

A

Febrile convulsions are tonic-clonic seizures that occur in children during a high fever.

They are not caused by epilepsy or other pathology (e.g., meningitis or tumours).

Febrile convulsions occur in children aged between 6 months and 5 years.

Febrile convulsions do not usually cause any lasting damage. One in three will have another febrile convulsion.

They slightly increase the risk of developing epilepsy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH SEIZURES FROM OTHER CONDITIONS

A

Vasovagal syncope (fainting)

Pseudoseizures (non-epileptic attacks)

Cardiac syncope (e.g., arrhythmias or structural heart disease)

Hypoglycaemia

Hemiplegic migraine

Transient ischaemic attack

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

DIAGNOSING EPILEPSY

A

An electroencephalogram (EEG) shows typical patterns in different forms of epilepsy and supports the diagnosis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

MANAGEMENT OF EPILEPSY

A
  • Patients and families presenting with seizures are advised about safety precautions and recognising, managing and reporting further seizures. Safety precautions include:

-The DVLA will remove their driving licence until specific criteria are met (e.g., being seizure-free for one year)

  • Taking showers rather than baths (drowning is a major risk in epilepsy)

-Particular caution with swimming, heights, traffic and dangerous equipment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

TREATMENT

A

Treatment depends on the type of seizure, guided by a specialist.

Treatment aims to be seizure-free on the minimum anti-epileptic medications, ideally monotherapy with a single drug.

First-line therapies depend on the type of seizure, based on the NICE guidelines (2022):

  • 60-70% of pateints become seizure free after treatment with anticonvulsants
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q
A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

FRONTAL LOBE FUNCTION

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

PARIETAL LOBE FUNCTION

A
20
Q

WHAT DOES BROCAS AREA DO?

A
  • Broca’s area (Brodmann areas 44 and 45) is an area of the lateral frontal lobe in the dominant hemisphere concerned with the production of speech.
  • Expressive aphasia or Brocas aphasia
  • Expressive aphasia is a condition where a person may understand speech, but they have difficulty speaking fluently themselves.
21
Q

WHAT DOES WERNICKES AREA DO?

A
  • Comprehension of speech
  • Brodmann area 22, which is located in the superior temporal gyrus
  • Problems in this area cause receptive aphasia
  • Wernicke’s aphasia or receptive aphasia is when someone is able to speak well and use long sentences, but what they say may not make sense.
22
Q

DIFFRENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

A
23
Q

HYPERVENTILATION AND PANIC ATTACKS

A
24
Q

WHEN TAKING HISTORY OF AN EPILEPTIC PATIENT

A
25
Q

SYNCOPE

A
  • Syncope is a sudden impairment of consciousness with loss of postural tone
  • So its another word for fainting or passing out

CAUSE:
-Syncope occurs when there is not enough blood flow to the brain.
There are many potential causes, but the most common ones include:
- Arrhythmia and abnormal heart rhythm: During episodes of heart arrhythmia, the heart works inefficiently and not enough oxygenated blood can circulate to the brain. There are many types of cardiac arrhythmias that may cause syncope.

26
Q

VASOVAGAL Syncope

A
  • Reflex syncope is the result of a reflex response to some trigger, in which the heart slows or blood vessels dilate (widen). This causes blood pressure to drop, so less blood flows to the brain and fainting (syncope)
  • Vasovagal syncope — the common faint — occurs in one third of the population. It is by far the most common form of reflex syncope. Vasovagal syncope is often triggered by a combination of dehydration and upright posture. But it can also have an emotional trigger such as seeing blood (“fainting at the sight of blood”).
27
Q

Orthostatic hypotension

A
  • Orthostatic (upright) hypotension (low blood pressure when standing) can also cause fainting because blood has trouble going against gravity to reach the brain.
  • Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a fall in systolic blood pressure of 20 mmg Hg or more on standing, resulting in syncope.
28
Q

MANAGEMENT OF SYNCOPE

A
29
Q

SINGLE SEIZURE

A
  • 2 yr risk of recurrence 30-40%
  • Lowest risk (24%)
  • no cause, normal EEG

-Highest (65%) in those with abnormal imaging & epileptiform EEG

-Treatment after first seizure halves 2 year risk from 40% to20%. Does not affect longer term outcome

30
Q

MANAGEMENT OF SINGLE SEIZURE

A
  • Explanation
  • Seizure recurrence

-Drugs

  • Driving- 6 months

-Occupation

  • Precipitating factors- sleep deprivation, alcohol
  • What to do if further attack-hazards

INVESTIGATIONS:
- bloods
- EEG
- CT/MRI

31
Q

EEG

A
32
Q

IDEAL ANTICONVULSANT

A
33
Q

WHAT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BRAIN DO

A
34
Q

DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEMENTIA

A
35
Q

ALZHEIMERS DEMENTIA

A
36
Q

VASCULAR DEMENTIA

A
37
Q

LEWY BODY DEMENTIA

A
38
Q

FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA

A
39
Q

FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA

A
40
Q

RARER TYPES OF DEMENTIA

A
41
Q

CONDITIONS WHICH MIMIC DEMENTIA

A
42
Q

MEDICATION FOR DEMENTIA

A
43
Q
A
44
Q

HOW CAN I HELP DEMENTIA PATIENTS

A
45
Q
A

Hyms year 2 (36 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions