Epilepsy Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Generalised tonic-clonic seizures

A

LOC and tonic (muscle tensing) and clonic (jerking) episodes

Prolonged post-ictal period

Management:
- first-line: sodium valproate
- second line: lamotrigine or carbamazepine

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

Focal seizures

A

Start in temporal lobes

Hallucinations, memory flashbacks, deja vu, doing strange things on autopilot

Management
- first-line: lamotrigine or carbamazepine
- second line: sodium valproate

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

Absence seizures

A

Blank, stare into space then abruptly return to normal

Typically last 10-20seconds

First line: sodium valproate or ethosuximide

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

Atonic seizures

A

Drop attacks

Brief lapses in muscle tone, don’t usually last more than 3 minutes

Management
- first line: sodium valproate
- second line: lamotrigine

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

Myoclonic seizures

A

Sudden brief muscle contracts

Management
- first line: sodium valproate
- second line: lamotrigine, levetiracetam, toprimate

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

Infantile spasms

A

West syndrome

Cluster of full body spasms

1/3 die by 25, 1/3 seizure free

First line: prednisolone, vigabatrin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Febrile convulsions

A

Typically age 6m to 5y

Usually occur early in viral infections

Typically brief and generalised tonic/ tonic-clonic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Alcohol withdrawal seizures

A

Chronic alcohol enhances GABA and inhibits NMDA type glutamate receptors

Alcohol withdrawal does the opposite

Peak incidence is 36 hours after cessation

Often given benzos to reduce risk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures

A

Epileptic-like siezures with no characteristic electrical discharges

May have history of mental health problems or personality disorder

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

Sodium valproate side effects

A

Increased appetite and weight gain

Alopecia

P450 enzyme inhibitor

Ataxia

Tremor

Hepatitis

Pancreatitis

Thrombocytopeania

Teratogenic

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

Carbamazepine side effects

A

P450 enzyme inducer

Dizziness and ataxia

Drowsiness

Leucopenia and agranulocytosis

SIADH

Visual disturbances

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Lamotrigine side effects

A

Steven-Johnson syndrome

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

Phenytoin side effects

A

P450 enzyme inducer

DIzziness and ataxia

Gingival hyperplasia, hirsutism, coarsening of facial features

Megaloblastic anaemia

Peripheral neuropathy

Enhanced vitamin D metabolism causing osteomalacia

Lymphadenopathy

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

Status epilepticus management

A

ABCDE

Secure airway

Give high-conc oxygen

Check blood glucose

Gain IV access

IV lorazepam 4mg, repeated after 10 minutes of seizure continues

If seizure persists IV phenobarbitural or phenytoin

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

Status epilepticus medical management in the community

A

Buccal midazolam

Rectal diazepam

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