Epilepsy Flashcards
what are the before tiggers of epilepsy?
- lack of sleep
- flickering lights
- alcohol
- stress
what typically happens before in epilepsy?
triggers
- alcohol, stress, lack of sleep, lights
aura
- rising epigastric sensation, de ja vu
what is meant by syncopal?
loss of consciousness due to lack of perfusion to the brain
summarise the syncopal and non-syncopal causes of collapse/
what is meant by epilespy?
recurrent tendency to have unprovoked seizure
what are seizures?
abnormal paroxysma, discharge of cerebral neurons
outline the aetiology of epilepsy?
what typically happens during epilepsy?
less than 3 mins
LOC
tongue biting
jerking
incontinence
what typically happens after epilepsy?
slow recovery
post ictal headache
confusion
myalgia
todd’s paresis
outline the classification of seizures?
outline the clinical diagnosis for epilepsy?
Needs 2 or more unproved seizures occuring more than 24 hours apart
EEG
bloods
brain imaging- CT, MRI
what is used for the management of focal seizures?
carbamazepine
lamotrigine
what is used for the management of generalised seizures?
1st line- sodium valproate
2nd line- carbamazepine
what are the side effects of epilepsy management?
pyshciatric side effects ( depression)
weight gain
outline the management of epilepsy and pregnancy?
some anti-epileptics are teratogenic
strictly avoid SODIUM VALPROATE
Lamotrigine usually preferred
what are the other antiepileptics?
phenytoin
levetiracetam
clobozam
topirimate
gabapentin
vigabatrin
define status epilepticus?
seizures lasting more than 5 mins or repeated seizures without recovery or regain of consciousness in between
what are the triggers for status epilepticus?
non-adherence to medication
alcohol abuse
OD and toxicity
outline the A-E approach for status epilepticus?
what are the features of frontal lobe epilepsy?
Motor symptoms
- Jacksonian March- muscular spasms spread from distal part of limb to larger area of body
- post ictal flaccid paresis ( todd’s paresis)
- involuntary actions ( disinhibition)
what are the features of temporal lobe epilepsy?
aura ( epigastric discomfort)
Automatisms ( playing with fingers, lip smacking)
Hallucinations
what are the features of parietal lobe epilepsy?
sensory disturbances ( pain, tingling, numbness)
what are the features of occipital lobe epilepsy?
visual phenomenon ( flashing lights, spots, lines
