epilepsy Flashcards
what # HZ would be there for a patient with primary generalized epilepsy
2-3 HZ
What is one cause of seizure in school aged patients
not enough sleep, missing antiseizure meds, drugs or stress
What is the most common benzo used for status epilepticus and why?
Lorazepam because it act rapidly but it is less fat soluble so it is cleared more slowly by the brain than other drugs
What is another drug that can be used for status epilepticus that can cause cardiac arrhythmia or hypotension at 50mg/min
Phenytoin.
If a older patient comes in with shaking that starts in his fingers, moves to his hand then up his arm and lasts for 30 seconds what would be the best test to obtain?
- EMG
- EEG
- CT scan
Since you know it is most likely a simple partial seizure the best test would be a CT scan to determine what is causing this.
After cessation of drinking what is the most common day to have alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
1-2 days.
What are the common symptoms of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
- occurs in children
- mental dysfunction
- multiple seizure types
- 1-2 hz generalized spike wave
- difficult to control the seizures in children with this syndrome.
- Usually have history of infantile spasms (west syndrome)
What are associations with Landau Kleffner syndrome
- progressive loss of language
- abnormal EEG during sleep.
- age 3-7
What part of the brain is associated with a patients aura causing olfactory halluncinations.
mesial temporal lobe particularly the hippocampus or parahippocampal gyrus.
True or false… prophylactic phenytoin is used to reduce the incidence of seizures after head injury.
True
What is the most common complication of temporal lobectomy.
Visual field defect caused by interruption of fibers from the optic tracts. will cause superior quadrantanopsia.
Explain Jacksonian March
focal seizure activity that is primarily motor and spreads (examples starts in fingers and moves up arm to face) often then secondarily generalizes and patient loses consciousness and may become tonic clonic.
Explain myoclonic seizures and what syndrome they are commonly seen in?
- what can trigger these jerks.
- Patient has jerking motions of limbs while awake.
- Most often seen in benign juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
- Can be triggered by flashing lights or loud sounds.
What are the side effects of Valproate
- nausea/vomiting
- weight gain
- tremor
- Hepatotoxicity * could be fetal so need to check liver enzymes
- acute pancreatitis
- teratogenic ( neural tube defects)
What can happen if mom is taking Valproate during her pregnancy
Neural tube defects (spina bifida)
