Seizures Flashcards
Defined as the occurrence of at least two unprovoked seizures with or without “convulsion”
EPILEPSY
Excessive discharge of cortical neurons and characterized by changes in electrical activity
seizure
Violent, involuntary contractions of voluntary muscles separated by at least 24 hours
EPILEPSY
Minimal Spread of abnormal discharges
patient is conscious and aware
SIMPLE PARTIAL SEIZURE
May start with an AURA and may involve Jerking
movements or hallucinations
SIMPLE PARTIAL SEIZURE
May start with an Aura
May become motionless/ Vacant stare
COMPLEX PARTIAL SEIZURE
Repeated movements or gestures such as smacking of the lips
Patient may be awake or may lose consciousness
May not have a memory or may not be aware of the seizure
COMPLEX PARTIAL SEIZURE
“Petit mal” seizure
Sudden onset, abrupt cessation (10-45 seconds)
ABSENCE SEIZURE
Altered consciousness
May have mild clonic jerking of eyelids and extremities
ABSENCE SEIZURE
Automatism and automatic phenomena
May occur several times a day (hundred times)
ABSENCE SEIZURE
“Gran mal”
Most dramatic
With tonic rigidity of the extremities followed by the clonic jerking
TONIC CLONIC SEIZURE
The patient is usually left in stuporous state
There may be loss of consciousness
TONIC CLONIC SEIZURE
With the presence of Aura
The episode may be followed by deep sleep
TONIC CLONIC SEIZURE
Under the umbrella of generalized tonic- clonic seizure
Involves brief jerking movements
MYOCLONIC SEIZURE
Heterogenous affectiation
May be seen in patients with GTC, partial and absence
MYOCLONIC SEIZURE
