Clinical Epilepsy-Bloch Flashcards
What is this:
the clinical manifestation of an abnormal excessive excitation and synchronization of a populatio of cortical neurons
seizure
What is this: recurrent seizures (two or more) which are not provoked by systemic or acute neurologic insult
epilepsy
A seizure is the manifestation of an abnormal, (blank) discharge of a population of cortical neurons
hypersynchronous
The hypersynchronous discharge of neurons caused by a seizure may produce symptoms or objective signs which is called a (blank) seizure, or it may be apparent only on EEG in which case it is a (blank) seizure
- clinical
- electrographic (subclinical) seizure
What is the incidence of seizure?
What is the lifetime incidence of seizures?
80/100,000 per year
9% (1/3 febrile convulsions)
What is the incidence of epilepsy?
What is the point prevalence of epilepsy?
What is the cumulative lifetime incidence?
45/100,000
0.5-1%
3%
The incidence of new-onset seizures in the general population is approximately 80 per 100,000 per year; approximately (blank) percent of these patients will have epilepsy, a tendency toward recurrent unprovoked seizures.
60%
At least (blank) unprovoked seizures are required for the diagnosis of epilepsy. OR one seizure with (blank) findings
two
abnormal MRI or EEG
What are the major categories of seizures?
partial (one hemisphere)
generalized (both hemispheres)
What are three types of partial seizures?
- simple partial
- complex partial
- secondarily generalized
What are the five types of generalized seizures?
- absence
- myoclonic
- atonic
- tonic
- tonic-clonic
What is another name for partial seizures?
focal seizures
During simple partial seizures, (Blank) is preserved. What is the patient like?
consciousness
alert, responive, intact memory of what occured during seizure
What is a complex partial seizure?
consciousness is altered or lost; impaired attention and responsiveness, loss of memory during seizure
Why is it important to distinguish between simple partial and complex partial seizures?
complex partial seizure patients should not drive
Partial onset seizures may progress to (blank) seizures.
secondarily generalized
What are secondarily generalized seizures?
start partial and become generalized and involve motor activity on both sides of the body
What are the subtypes of simple partial seizures?
- with somatosensory or special sensory symptoms
- with motor signs
- with autonomic symptoms or signs
- with psychic or experiential symptoms
What would a simple partial seizure with autonomic symptoms or signs look like?
Autonomic seizures are common, evoking changes in autonomic activity (e.g., altered heart or breathing rate, sweating) or visceral sensations (e.g., in abdomen or chest)
What is a complex partial seizure and what is the duration?
a partial seizure with impaired consciousness and lasts less than 2 minutes
What is the clinical manifestation of a complex partial seizure?
-varies with site of origin and degree of spread
presence and nature of aura, automatisms, other motor activity
The majority of complex partial seizures originate in the (blank) lobe and can affect consciousness while still remaining focal.
temporal
What are some clinical manifestations of complex partial seizures?
patients tend to stare off and have impaire responsiveness, cognitive function, and recall, although some degree of responsiveness may be preserved (e.g. orienting toward a stimulus)
(blank) movements are common in complex partial seizures. What are some examples of these?
automatic
commonly involve the mouth (e.g lip smacking, chewing, swallowing), upper extremities (e.g fumbling, picking), vocalization/verbalization (e.g. grunts, repeating a phrase), or complex acts (e.g. shuffling card).
Occasionaly with complex partial seizures, there are dramatic automatisms manifested as what?
screming, running, disrobing, pelvic thrusting
How do secondarily generalized seizures start? are there focal neurological symptoms?
What is the typical duration?
Begins focally, with or without focal neurological symptoms
-variable symmetry, intensity, and duration of tonic (stiffening) and clonic (jerking) phase
1-3 minutes
How will a patient with a secondarily generalized seizure present postictally?
confusion, somnolence, with or without transient focal deficit
Partial seizures can progress to generalized seizures with (blank) activity
tonic-clonic
Once a partial seizure secondarily generalizes it is generally (possible/impossible) to differentiate from a primarily generalized seizure.
impossible
In secondarily generalized seizures, patients may recall an (blank) prior to the convulsive activity or witnesses may observe a simple partial or complex partial seizure prior to generalization. In addition, following a secondarily generalized seizure, the patient may have (blank) on the side contralateral to seizure onset.
aura
focal weakness (Todd’s paralysis)
The(blank) state is the altered state of consciousness after an epileptic seizure. It usually lasts between 5 and 30 minutes
postictal
During (blank) scalp-recorded EEG may be normal, or show quite localized or lateralized abnormal rhythmic activity.
simple partial seizures
During (blank), rhythmic activity, which is often bilateral, is seen.
complex partial seizures
During (blank), rhythmic activity is usually high amplitude, bilateral and diffuse, although it is usually obscured by artifact from the abundant muscle activity characterizing these seizures.
secondarily generalize activity
(blank) seizures affect both cerebral hemispheres from the beginning of the seizure
Generalized
What are the 5 types of generalized seizures?
- absence
- myoclonic
- atonic
- tonic
- tonic-clonic
Generalized seizures affect both cerebral hemispheres from the beginning of the seizure. They produce (blank), either briefly or for a longer period of time.
loss of consciousness
What is an absence seizure? How long do they last? What is the onset and resolution like? What provokes them? What age is the onset? What age is resolution?
- a type of generalize seizure with brief staring spells (“petit mal”)
- 3-20 seconds
- sudden onset and quick resolution
- hyperventilation
- 4-14 years of age
- 18 years
Do absence seizures affect intelligience and development?
What is the EEG like?
NO
generalized 3 Hz spike-wave discharges
(Blank) seizures are brief episodes, usually lasting 3-20 seconds, of staring with impairment of awareness and responsiveness.
Absence (petit mal)
Is there a warning before an absence seizure?
What is the person like after the seizure? Why is this significant?
no
alert and attentive
-this lack of postictal period is a key feature that allows one to distinguish b/w absence and partial complex seizures.
What happens if you have an absence seizure greater than 10 seconds?
you get accompanying motor phenomena (e.g. eye blinks, brief automatic mouth or hand movements, changes in muscle tone).
What is an Atypical absence seizure?
-brief staring spells with variably reduced responsiveness
Whats the difference betwen and atypical absence seizure and a typical absence seizure?
Atypical lasts longer (5-30 seconds)
Has a gradual onset and resolution (typical is sudden)
Is not provoked by hyperventilation (typical is)
Has a later onset (typically after 6 years of age)
Who typically gets atypical absence seizures?
Children with global cognitive impairment
What is the EEG like in a atypical absence patient?
generalized slow spike-wave complexes less than 2.5hz (typical is 3 hz)
T or F
Atypical absence seizures usually arise during childhood, but may persist into adulthood. Atonic and tonic seizures often occur in patients with atypical absence seizures.
T
What is a epileptic myoclonus seizure?
What does the EEG look like?
it is a generalized seizure characterized by a brief, shock-like jerk of a muscle or group of muscles
-generaized 4-6 Hz polyspike-wave discharge
(blanK) seizures involve a brief, shock-like jerk of a muscle or group of muscles.
Myoclonic
(blank) myoclonus occurs in healthy people (e.g while falling asleep). This is not a myoclonic seizure.
Benign
Pathologic myoglonus can result from (blank and blank) causes
epileptic and nonepileptic
(blank) usually causes bilateral, synchronous jerks most often affecting the neck, shoulders, upper arms, boy and upper legs.
epileptic myoclonus
Is consciousness impaired in myoclonic seizures? How long do myoclonic seizures last?
consciouness does not usually seem to be impaired
-less than 1 second
EEG during a myoclonic seizure typically shows a (blank) discharge
polyspike and slow wave discharge
(blank) occur in a variety of epilepsy syndromes. Rarely they may be seen as part of a progressive, degenerative condition
Myoclonic seizures
What is this:
symmetric, tonic muscle contraction of extremities with tonic flexion of waste and neck
How long do they last?
What does the EEG look like?
A type of generalized seizure called a Tonic seizure
2-20 seconds
Sudden attenuation with generalized, low voltage fast activity (most common) or generalized polyspike wave
What is an atonic seizure (type of generalized seizure)? What will result if it is severe case? What about a mild case? Is consciousness impaired? How long is do they last? What will the EEG look like?
sudden loss of postural tone
-falls
-head nods or jaw drops
YES
usually seconds, rarely more than 1 minutes
-Sudden diffuse attenuation or generalized polyspike-wave
Who are atonic and tonic seizures occur in?
people with neurologic abnormalities
In contrast to partial motor seizures, tonic seizures are generalized, involving bilateral musculature in a (blank) manner.
symmetric or nearly symmetric
(blank) seizures are characterized by flexion at the waist and neck, abduction and flexion or extension of the upper extremities, and flexion or extension of the lower extremities. They typically occur during (blank) and last (blank) seconds.
What does the EEG look like?
Tonic seizures
sleep
2-20
EEG usually shows generalized, low-voltage, fast polyspikes.