Seizures Flashcards
1
Q
Seizures
A
- Abnormal episodes of motor, sensory, autonomic, or psychic activity (or a combination of these) resulting from a sudden, abnormal, uncontrolled electrical discharge from cerebral neurons
- SEIZURES MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH AN UNDERLYING PATHOLOGICAL CONDITION
2
Q
Classification of seizures:
A
- Focal: originates in one hemisphere
- Generalized: occur and engage bilaterally
- Unknown: epilepsy spasms
- βProvokedβ related to acute, reversible condition such as structural, metabolic, immune, infectious or unknown etiologies
3
Q
Epilepsy
A
at least two unprovoked seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart.
4
Q
Epilepsy PATHOPHYSIOLOGY:
A
- The underlying cause is an Abnormal, sudden, excessive, uncontrolled electrical discharge in the nerve cells in one section of the brain; these cells emit electrical discharges that result in change of LOC, motor/sensory ability and behavior.
- Epilepsy: chronic disorder with repeated unprovoked seizures.
- Chronic disorder
- Two or more seizures
- Group of syndrome, classified by specific patterns of clinical features
- Primary
- Secondary
- More common in children and older adults
5
Q
Generalized seizure
A
- Both hemispheres
- lasts 2-5 minutes
6
Q
Tonic Clonic (grand mal) seizure with LOC
A
- Aura or βsensationβ may precede onset of actual seizure
- Two phases lasting about 2-5 minutes
- First phase (Tonic phase) muscles become rigid or stiff of arms and legs and loss of consciousness
- Second phase (Clonic phase) rhythmic jerking of extremities- may bite the tongue, incontinent
- Followed by fatigue and lethargy (lasts about 1 hour or less )
- TONIC = stiff muscles; CLONIC = jerking of extremities
β- note time tonic started
β- guide to floor/ blow by O2
7
Q
Absence (petite mal) Seizure
A
- Brief loss of consciousness (blank stare), immediate return to baseline
- Zone out and come back;
- Common in children.
- Often accused of daydreaming
- Brief (seconds) loss of consciousness (blank stare)
- Then continue what they were doing before seizure
- Followed by automatisms (or automatic behavior they have no control over)
- Lip smacking, picking at clothes
8
Q
Myoclonic seizure
A
- Brief jerking or stiffening of extremities/Single or Bilateral
- Jerking of one extremity, may only last a few minutes
- brief; 1 or both sides affected
9
Q
Atonic seizure
A
- Sudden loss of muscle tone, Falls lead to injury, Followed by postictal confusion
- Loss of muscle tone, falls to floor,
- Loss of consciousness for a few seconds, postictal confusion
10
Q
Partial seizure
A
one hemisphere
11
Q
Complex partial seizure
A
loss of consciousness
12
Q
Simple partial seizure
A
stays conscious; may have aura
13
Q
SECONDARY SEIZURE
A
CAUSED BY AN UNDERLYING LESION
- TUMOR
- BRAIN TRAUMA
OTHER CAUSES
- METABOLIC DISORDERS
- ACUTE ALCOHOL WITHDRAWALS
- ELECTROLYTE DISTURBANCES (HYPERKALEMIA, HYPOGLYCEMIA)
- HIGH FEVER
- SUBSTANCE ABUSE
14
Q
Epilepsy risk factors/ Causes
A
- Cerebrovascular disease (stroke)
- Hypoxemia
- Fever (childhood)
- Head injury
- Hypertension
- Central nervous system infections (meningitis/ encephalitis)
- Metabolic and toxic conditions
- Metabolic disorders
- Brain tumor
- Drug and alcohol withdrawal
- Allergies
- electrolyte imbalance
- high fever
- stroke
15
Q
Seizure Triggers:
A
- Missed medication (#1 reason)
- increased physical activity
- emotional stress/ anxiety
- Hormonal changes
- Dehydration
- Lack of sleep
- excessive/ extreme fatigue
- Photosensitivity
- certain foods and chemicals
- alcohol/caffeine consumption
