Epilepsy Flashcards
in a falls history, what aspects should be asked about in the “before” segment
pallor light headedness triggers - flashing lights posturing of limbs head turning
in a falls history what aspects should be asked about in the “during” segment
tonic
clonic
rigidity
responsiveness and awareness
in a falls history what aspects should be asked about in the “after” segment
speed of recovery
disorientation
risk factors for epilepsy
complicated birth delayed development previous seizures including febrile head injury family history drugs alcohol
list drugs precipitating epileptic seizures
theophylline tramadol opioids penicillins cephalosporins quinolones lithium lidocaine antidepressants anticholinergics prochlorperazine
which single investigation should all people who have had a fall/collapse get?
ECG
which cardiac condition is it vital not to miss in terms of falls
LQTS
who gets a CT scan acutely
skull fracture
deteriorating GCS
focal neurological deficit head injury with seizure failure of GCS 15/15 after 4 hours
suggestion of other pathology
what is an EEG and is it a good test to diagnose epilepsy after a collapse
electroencephalogram
it is a dreadful test and should not be used to diagnose epilepsy after a collapse
what is an EEG used for
to classify epilepsy
confirm non-epileptic attack/non-convulsive status
surgical evaluation
differential diagnoses of collapse
syncope seizure hypoglycaemia pseudoseizure sleep phenomena parasomnias migraine cataplexy tonic spasms of MS
how long until you are able to drive a car after your first seizure
6 months
how long until you are able to drive a HGV/PCV after your first seizure
5 years
1 seizure = epilepsy, true or false
false
when can you drive a car if you have epilepsy
1 year being seizure free
or 3 years during sleep
when can you drive a HGV/PCV if you have epilepsy
after being medication free for 10 years
define epilepsy
a tendency to recurrent spontaneous epileptic seizures
define seizure
abnormal synchronisation of electrical activity
- excitatory
- inhibitory
what is SUDEP
sudden unexplained death in epilepsy
how are seizures classified
focal/partial
generalised
describe focal seizures
irritation occurs in a certain area of the brain eg stroke, haemorrhage, demyelination, tumour