Epilepsy Flashcards

1
Q

What is epilepsy

A

neurological disorder characterised by recurrent seizures

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

What are seizures

A

A seizure is defined as a paroxysmal alteration of neurological function as a result of excessive, hypersynchronous discharge of neurons within the brain

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

What causes a seizure

A

imbalance between excitation and inhibition within the neurons of the brain.

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

What is the imbalance between

A

NAME?

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

Inherited risk factors of epilepsy

A

NAME?

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

Acquired risk factors

A

NAME?

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

What can trigger a seizure

A

NAME?

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

How are seizures classified

A

1-Where the seizures began
2-Level of awareness during the seizure
3-Other features of the seizure e.g. motor

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

Pre - ictal phase features ?

A

NAME?

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

what to investigate during the Ictal stage ? 6

A

NAME?

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

What would jerking suggest

A

tonic clonic

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

What occurs in a tonic clonic seizure

A

NAME?

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

What is myoclonic

A

Some or all of the body suddenly twitches. Usually lasts less than a second

Muscle twitching and spasming

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

What is a behavioural arrest seizure and what does it suggest?

A

A type of focal non-motor seizure characterized by an arrest or pause of activities, freezing, or immobilization as the predominant semiological feature throughout the seizure

Arrest seizure? IDK Maryam’s retarded

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

What is atonic

A

Sudden loss of muscle strength. Can cause a person to drop to the ground

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

What occurs during an abscence seizure

A
  • childhood moments of staring blankly into space
  • 3hz spike on ecg
17
Q

what to investigate in the post - ictal symptoms 5

A

post ictal symptoms:

  • drowsiness
  • headaches
  • amnesia
  • dysphagia
  • sore tongue
18
Q

Where can seizures originate?

A

NAME?

19
Q

What is the most common location of focal seizures

A

temporal lobe

20
Q

Temporal lobe focal seizure features

A

NAME?

21
Q

frontal lobe features of a focal seizure

A

NAME?

22
Q

occipital focal seizure features

A

NAME?

23
Q

Initial investigations

A

Bedside

  • Urinalysis: nitrites or leucocytes would suggest infection
  • Capillary blood glucose: to exclude hypoglycaemia
  • ECG: to exclude differentials such as cardiogenic syncope

Bloods

  • FBC
  • Inflammatory markers
  • U&E,bone profile , mg2+
24
Q

Imaging for a seizure

A

ct head - to exclude intracranial causes such as haemorrhage

25
Q

Diagnosis for epilepsy must involve?

A

must have had 2 or more seizures withins 24hr periodq

26
Q

Conservative management

A

NAME?

27
Q

medical management ?

A

NAME?

28
Q

who cant have sodium valproate

A

except females of child bearing age

29
Q

mechanism of sodium valproate

A

NAME?

30
Q

Acute complications

A
  • Injury
  • Tongue biting
  • Shoulder dislocation: usually posterior
  • Status epilepticus: state of prolonged seizure activity >5 minutes
31
Q

Three types of focal seizures

A

NAME?

32
Q

first line tx for focal seizures

A

Lamatrogine or levetiracetam
1st line for tonic clonic focal

33
Q

What seizures have sodium valproate as first line tx

A

Abscence

Generalised - tonic-clonic

myoclonic

34
Q

Complications of epilepsy

A
  • Status epilepticus - >5 minutes of continuous seizures
  • Depression
  • Suicide
  • Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)
35
Q

what medication may worsen myoclonic seizures

A

carbamezepine

36
Q

asynchronous limb movements, trunk movements and eyes being closed would suggest ?

A

dissociative seizure

37
Q

Side effects of lamotrigine

A

NAME?

38
Q

’ crazy movements’ sudden jerking of a limb , trunk or face with preserved consciousness would indicate

A

Myoclonic seizure

39
Q

jacksonian march ?

A

Seizure starts in one group but can then move to another
Classic to focal motor seizures