epilepsy Flashcards
cause of 2/3rds of epilepsy is
idiopathic
investigations for epilepsy
take a history (witness account!)
establish the type of seizure
rule out provoking causes
drugs screen
assessing episodes of collapse
patients account - context/timing, recollection of it, seizure markers
witnesses account if possible
what do you want from the witness?
eyes open or closed
describe movements
time of recovery
pallor, alternation of breathing, pulses
3 types of syncope (fainting)
reflex (like when taking blood etc)
orthostatic (dehydration/medication related)
cardiogenic (arrhythmia)
assessment of syncope
what examinations would you do?
heart sounds
pulse
postural BP
what test would you do for syncope?
ECG
test for heart block etc
cardiac syncope may come with
chest pains
palpitations
SOB
provoked epilepsy can be by:
alcohol withdrawal
drug withdrawal
within days of head injury
within 24hrs of stroke
within 24hrs of neurosurgery
two types of seizure in epilepsy
primary generalised
focal
primary generalised seizures characteristics
no warning
over 25 years old
may have history of absences etc
may have FH
Focal (or partial) seizure characteristics
may get aura
any age
simple partial and complex partial seizures
a complex partial seizure is a seizure of what lobe?
temporal
status epilepticus
prolonged or recurrent tonic clonic seizures persisting more than 30 minutes with no recovery between the seizures
how do you treat status epilepticus?
lorazepam
diazepam
