Seizures Flashcards
A sudden, time-limited, involuntary alteration of neurologic function caused by abnormal “firing” of neurons within the brain
Seizure
Recurrent seizures
Epilepsy
Remembered part of the seizure
Aura
the actual seizure
Ictus
between seizures
Interictal
period of time following the actual seizure until the patient returns to his or her usual interictal state
Postictal
no known cause for seizure
Idiopathic
an identifiable cause can be found related to seizures
Symptomatic
no alteration or loss of consciousness
begin in and remain confined to localized group or irritative neurons
brief in duration- usually less than a minute
Simple Partial
isolated muscle groups
symptoms depend on location in motor strip (precentral gyrus in frontal lobe)
usually rhythmic jerking
Focal motor
Give 3 examples of focal motor seizures
Todd’s paralysis
Jacksonian seizure
Adversive seizure
postictal paralysis of the extremity affected by focal clonic activity
Todd’s Paralysis
“marching” of the rhythmic jerking
Jacksonian Seizure
lesion on the superior frontal gyrus (head and eyes turn away from the side of the lesion)
Adversive Seizure
symptoms depend on location in sensory strip
Sensory (simple partial)
vomiting, flushing, pallor, tachycardia, dizziness
autonomic (simple partial)
deja vu, fearful, transient loss of time, place or person
Psychic (simple partial)
alteration or loss of consciousness
Complex Partial Seizure
non-purposeful actions without patient awareness for which the patient has no recall
Automatism
give examples of automatism
lip smacking, chewing, fumbling with clothes, unclear speech, etc.
begins with immediate LOC
no aura, increased HR and BP, cyanotic, sweats
Tonic-Clonic (Grand Mal)
flexion of extremities followed by generalized muscular tension
Tonic Phase
body arched upward
Opisthotonos
alteration of muscle contractions and relaxation (rhythmic jerk)
Clonic Phase
lasts 5-15 minutes, stupor
Postictal Phase
staring spell
Absence (Petit Mal)
sudden, brief, single or multiple muscle contractions recurring every few seconds
myoclonic
loss of muscle toxicity, no LOC
atonic (drop attacks)
brief episodes of increased muscle tone, LOC, activated by NREM
tonic
altered consciousness, rapid, bilateral myoclonic jerks, often during NREM sleep
clonic
prolonged or clustered seizure, sometimes develop into non-stop seizures
status epilepticus
