Seizures Flashcards
What is an epileptic seizure?
Abnormal uncontrollable hypersynchronous activation of a large group of neurons
Define epilepsy
Recurrent epileptic seizures
Where are eplipetic seizures localized to in the nervous system?
Forebrain neurolocalisation
What are isolated seizures?
Seizures that last <5 mins
What are cluster seizures?
2 or more seizures in a 24 hours period with complete recovery in-between
What is status epilepticus?
Seizure >5 mins
2 seizures without complete recovery inbetween
What is the significance of status epilepticus?
Most likely to cause brain damage
What are the three parts of a seizure?
Pre-ictal phase
Ictus under
Post-ictal phase
What is the interictal phase?
The period of time between two separate seizure events
What are the two types of extra-cranial causes fo seizures?
Toxins
Metabolic disease
List three metabolic, extra-cranial causes of seizures.
Portosystemic shunt
Hypoglycaemia
Hypocalcaemia
List three structural causes of epilepsy
Brain tumour
Inflammation
Hydrocephalus
Between which ages can you make a presumptive diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy in animals?
Between 6 months and 6 years
What are the four types of blood tests used to investigate seizures?
Haematology
Serum biochemistry
Fasted blood glucose
Pre + post prandial bile acids
List four occasions where treatment is indicated for idiopathic epilepsy
Underlying structural or metabolic cause
Cluster seizures or status epilepticus
If >1 seizure per month
Increasing frequency
