Seizures Flashcards
Seizures=
=Sudden, uncontrolled, excessive discharge of neurons in brain
Seizure = epilepsy, true or false
*not everyone who has a seizure has epilepsy
Epilepsy=Two or more seizures
3 causes of epilepsy
- Abnormal neuron activity
- Imbalance of neurotransmitters
- both
3 BROAD categories of seizures
- Generalized
- Focal (Partial)
- Unclassified
6 classifications of generalized seizures
- Tonic-clonic
- Tonic
- Clonic
- Myoclonic
- Atonic
- Absence
Difference b/w primary and secondary seizure
Primary = Not associated with any specified cause
Secondary = Identified cause
Tumors
Trauma
*Alcohol detox, if have seizure during detox very likely will have seizure next detox
Fever
Electrolyte imbalances
Why don’t want seizure lasting >5 minutes?
-risk of hypoxia and hypoglycemia
define the duration and phases of tonic clonic seizure.
- Lasts 2-5 minutes
- Begins with tonic phase (rigidity of muscles and loss of consciousness)
- Tonic phase followed by clonic (rhythmic jerking of all extremities)
- Postictal phase (fatigue, confusion that can last up to an hour after event)
tonic clonic vs myoclonic- which has loss of consciousness?
tonic clonic has loss of consciousness
what is a myoclonic seizure?
- Brief jerking or stiffening of extremities
- May occur in a single muscle or in groups of muscles, person is awake
- There is usually no loss of consciousness or confusion
what is an atonic seizure?
- Sudden loss of muscle tone
- Lasts for seconds
- Injurious
- Followed by postictal period
2 types of focal seizures
- With Impairment of consciousness (Complex partial seizures)
- Without Impairment of consciousness (Simple partial seizures)
what is an absence seizure?
causes you to blank out or stare into space for a few seconds
characteristics of Focal Onset With Impairment of consciousness (Complex partial seizures)
- Impaired consciousness- cannot follow commands
- automatism- repeated action, lip smacking
- Lasts 1-3 minutes
- Followed by postictal period of amnesia
Focal Onset Without Impairment of consciousness (simple partial seizure)
Awake/ no loss of consciousness
- Pre-seizure aura–> occurs before generalized seizure
- Movement of an extremity on one side
- Unusual sensations
- Autonomic changes
a focal seizure beins….
in part of one cerebral hemisphere
another word for aura =
focal seizure
characteristics of unclassified seizure
- Idiopathic
- About 50% of all seizures
- No identifiable reason
- Does not fall into generalized or partial seizures classifications
diagnostics for seizure
EEG CT MRI PET scan Epilepsy Center
List what you do for seizure precautions
*Access to Airway-put in higher level of care, intubation box
*Suction
*Oxygen
*IV Access
*Bed in low position- prevent injury
Padded Bedrails
Patient positioning during seizure
Turn on Side
Move objects away from person’s head (Prevent injury)
What is nurse doingduring seizure
- Observe and stay with patient during seizure!
- keep safe
- document timing/what is happening
patient ed for seizure meds
take at same time everyday
Status Epilepticus
=A seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes
causes of status epilepticus
Cessation of anticonvulsant drugs Alcohol or drug withdrawal Infection Head trauma Cerebral edema Metabolic disturbances
Status Epilepticus treatment
- Treated Acutely with IV lorazepam or IV Dilantin
- Airway is priority
- Give loading doses to get therapeutic level up
