NeuroPathology - Hydrocephalus & Epilepsy Objectives Flashcards

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1
Q

What is Epilepsy?

A

Epilepsy is a chronic, noncommunicable disease of at least two or more seizures of the brain that affects all ages.

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2
Q

What are Seizures?

A

Excessive discharge of cerebral neurons resulting in transient impairment or LOC

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3
Q

What is the most preventable cause of epilepsy?

A

head trauma

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4
Q

What is the most common cause of seizures in adults over the age of 50?

A

stroke, increases risk by 17%

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5
Q

How does a Tonic seizure present in body movements?

A

muscles in the body become stiff

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6
Q

How does an Atonic seizure present in body movements?

A

muscles in the body relax

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7
Q

How does a Myoclonic seizure present in body movements?

A

Short jerking in parts of the body

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8
Q

How does a Clonic seizure present in body movements?

A

periods of shaking or jerking in parts of the body

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9
Q

Where do Generalized Seizures impact the brain?

A

Both sides of the brain

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10
Q

Where do Focal seizures impact the brain?

A

Only part of the brain

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11
Q

What is a secondary generalized seizure?

A

where a seizure begins in one part of the brain but then spreads and becomes generalized

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12
Q

How does a focal seizure present?

A

consciousness is not often depressed, twitching, change in sensation, change in taste/smell, *confused/dazed

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13
Q

What is an Absence Seizure (Petit Mal)

A

Generalized seizure begins diffusely and involves both cerebral hemispheres simultaneously

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14
Q

How does an Absence Seizure present?

A

sudden cessation of ongoing conscious activity, often staring into space, onset/termination is abrupt, minor convulsions

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15
Q

What are symptoms of a Tonic-Clonic (Grand Mal) seizure?

A

sudden LOC, fall, total loss of control, incontinence, headache, disorientation, soreness, mood changes

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16
Q

What structures are involved in a Grand Mal seizure?

A

brainstem, prefrontal cortex, and basal ganglia mechanism

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17
Q

What are signs of Myoclonic seizures?

A

typically no loss of consciousness, often cluster shortly after waking or falling asleep, repeated seizures may seem to increase and end in generalized tonic-clonic convulsion

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18
Q

what are signs of atonic seizures?

A

brief loss of consciousness but no tonic contractions. most common in children with encephalopathy

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19
Q

What type of seizure is Status Epilepticus?

A

prolonged or repeated seizures with no recovery, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, no return to consciousness between attacks, ***medical emergency

20
Q

What are common causes of tonic-clonic status epiletpicus seizures?

A

tumors, CNS infections, drug abuse

21
Q

What is the most common seizure type in young children?

A

febrile seizures

22
Q

When would Infantile seizures occur?

A

neonatal period, within first 24-72 hours

23
Q

What are the three phases of a seizure?

A

Prodome, ictal, and post-ictal

24
Q

What is the Prodome phase of a seizure?

A

prior to the actual seizure where pt may have an aura/sense of attack but not apart of the seizure itself

25
Q

What is the ictal phase of a seizure?

A

the actual symptoms of a seizure

26
Q

What is the post-ictal phase of a seizure?

A

period of time from where the seizure ends to when patient returns to normal, typically between 5-30min

27
Q

What are symptoms of the post-ictal phase?

A

confusion, drowsiness, hypertension, headache, nausea

28
Q

True or False: Seizures increase mortality rates by 20%

A

TRUE

29
Q

What is Hydrocephalus?

A

build up of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in ventricles

30
Q

What are the two types of Hydrocephalus?

A

Communicating hydrocephalus & non-communicating hydrocephalus

31
Q

What causes hydrocephalus?

A

chiari malformation, neural tube deficits, dandy-walker syndrome, tumors, arachnoid cysts

32
Q

What are symptoms of hydrocephalus?

A

rapid increase in head circumference, seizures, N/V, sleepiness, irritability, eyes that constantly gaze downward, headaches, developmentally behind

33
Q

What is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus?

A

a type of communicating hydrocephalus

34
Q

What is Communicating Hydrocephalus?

A

CSF is blocked after exiting ventricles but can flow between them

35
Q

What is Non-Communicating Hydrocephalus?

A

CSF flow is blocked at one or more passages in ventricles

36
Q

what is the clinical presentation of NPH?

A

apraxic gait, shuffling/magnetic/wide-based steps, cognitive deficits, urinary incontinence

37
Q

Where are lumbar punctures accessed?

A

subarachnoid space in vertebral column

38
Q

Why would lumbar punctures be performed?

A

obtain sample of CSF, measure CSF pressure, remove CSF, assessment for shunt effectiveness

39
Q

What are the treatment options for hydrocephalus?

A

ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, external ventricular drain (EVD), endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV)

40
Q

What are factors that positively affect NPH outcomes?

A

early diagnosis/treatment, cognitive symptoms that develop AFTER gait issues/urinary incontinence, NPH that improves after a CSF spinal tap

41
Q

What are factors that negatively affect NPH outcomes?

A

delays in diagnosis/treatment, cognitive symptoms that develop BEFORE gait issues/urinary incontinence

42
Q

What are simple partial seizures?

A

preservation of consciousness and unilateral hemispheric involvement

43
Q

What are minor motor seizures?

A

myoclonus, akinesia, and/or atonia

44
Q

What are nonconvulsive status epilepticus symptoms?

A

change in individual’s behavior

45
Q

What are complex partial seizures?

A

associated with alteration or loss of consciousness and bilateral hemispheric motor involvement

46
Q

What is a Reflex Seizure?

A

triggered by specific stimuli