Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Year 2- CNS > Epilepsy > Flashcards

Epilepsy Flashcards

1
Q

What is the most important thing when assessing patients with loss of consciousness?

A

History

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

What would you ask in a history in a patient with loss of consciousness?

A

What were you doing at the time?
What had you been doing in the previous 24hrs?
Has this happened before?
Any warning symptoms?
Any awareness during event?
How they felt on recovery

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

What could be some warning symptoms that someone is going to lose consciousness?

A

Light-headed
Sweating
Nauseated
Hot
Loss of hearing
Tinnitus
Loss of vision

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

In terms of how a patient felt on recovery, what may be asked?

A

Bitten tongue?
Incontinence?
Spell of amnesia?
Muscle pain, shoulder dislocation, etc?

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

Syncope?

A

Loss of consciousness for a short period of time

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

in which scenario is there more likely to be a period of amnesia; syncope or seizure?

A

Seizure

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

As well as the patient’s account of the loss of consciousness, what else can be helpful when trying to work put cause?

A

Eye-witness description

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

What are the three categories of syncope?

A

Reflex
Orthostatic
Cardiogenic

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

Which type of syncope is due to a fall in BP?

A

Orthostatic

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

Which type of syncope may occur in response to taking blood?

A

Reflex

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

Which type of syncope may occur as a result of aortic stenosis?

A

Cardiogenic

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

What would be examined in assessment of syncope?

A

Heart sounds
Pulse
Postural BP

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

Which investigation are carried out in those with syncope?

A

ECG
Possibly 24hr ECG

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

What cause of syncope could be a cardiogenic cause?

A

Syncope occurs upon exertion

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

What may a witness say about observing someone with cardiogenic syncope?

A

Seemed to stop breathing
Unable to feel a pulse
Patient goes grey/ashen white

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

If someone has cardiogenic syncope, where should they be referred to?

A

Cardiology urgently
Admission for telemetry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is epilepsy?

A

Tendency to recurrent unprovoked seizures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What causes a seizure?

A

Disruption to neuronal electrical activity

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

List some factors that increase the risk of seizures in those with epilespy.

A

Missed medications
Sleep disturbances, fatigue
Hormonal changes
Drugs/alcohol
Stress, anxiety
Photosensitivity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Usually epilepsy is diagnosed when a patient has had more than one unprovoked seizure. When may a patient be diagnosed with epilepsy after one seizure?

A

If investigations suggest a tendency to reoccur e.g. abnormality on imaging or ECG

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the two classifications of seizure?

A

Generalised seizures
Focal seizures

22
Q

When do most generalised epilepsies present?

23
Q

When do focal epilepsies present?

24
Q

Which investigations are important to do if a patient has seizures?

A

Brain imaging to ensure no structural abnormality
EEGs

25
Describe the presentation of generalised seizures.
Unpredictable, tend to occur in clusters May have vague warning Afterwards have tongue bites and incontinence Muscle pain Period of amnesia
26
What would an eye witness describe seeing in someone having a generalised seizure?
Groaning sound Rigid phase Eyes open- staring or roll upwards Foaming at mouth Jerking for few mins then groggy for 15-30mins
27
What is the most common type of focal seizure?
Temporal lobe seizure
28
Describe what the patient may say happened in a focal seizure.
Rising feeling in stomach Funny taste or smell Deja vu No recollection of event Disorientated for a spell afterwards
29
What would an eye witness describe seeing in someone having a focal seizure of the temporal lobe?
Sudden arrest in activity Staring blankly into space Automatisms e.g. lip smacking, repetitive picking at clothes Disorientated afterwards
30
What would an eye witness describe seeing in someone having a focal seizure in the frontal lobe??
Starts with twitching Often purely nocturnal Patients recover quickly
31
What should be the initial assessments after a seizure?
ECG, routine bloods A&E often arrange CT
32
What may be carried out for further assessment of a seizure in a neurology clinic?
MRI for focal lesion EEG Discuss Anti-epileptic drugs Refer to epilepsy nurse
33
Which organisation needs to be informed if a patient has epilepsy?
DVLA
34
What is given for the first line treatment of epilepsy?.
Lorazepam, midazolam
35
What is given for the second line treatment of epilepsy?.
Valproate, levetiracetam or phenytoin- IV
36
Which drugs are mot effective in generalised epilepsy?
Sodium Valproate Levetiracetam Lamotrigine
37
Which drugs are mot effective in focal epilepsy?
Lamotrigine Carbamazeprine Levetiracetam
38
What are some side effects of sodium valproate?
Tremor, weight gain, ataxia, nausea, drowsiness, hepatitis, bone marrow suppression, drug induced parkinsonism
39
Which group of people should not be prescribed sodium valproate?
Women of childbearing age
40
What are some side effects of carbamazepine?
Ataxia, drowsiness, nystagmus, blurred vision, low serum sodium levels, skin rash
41
What are some side effects of lamotrgine?
Skin rash, difficulty sleeping
42
What are some side effects of levetiracetam?
Irritability, depression
43
What is status epilepticus?
Prolonged or recurrent tonic-clonic seizures persisting for more than ten minutes with no recovery period between seizures
44
Do patients with status epilepticus have history of epilespy?
Usually no
45
What is the first line treatment for ongoing seizures?
Lorazepam, given IV
46
If there is no IV access in patients with ongoing seizures, what is the first line treatment?
Buccal midozolam
47
What is meant by non-epileptic episodes/pseudoseizures?
Episodes that look like seizures but aren't because there's no electrical disturbance in the brain.
48
When are non-epileptic attacks/pseudoseizures more likely to happen?
Times of stress of at rest
49
What is the gold standard investigation for the diagnosis of pseudoseizure?
Video EEG
50

Year 2- CNS (49 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions