Seizures

Question 1

Seizure

Answer 1

stereotyped event involving altered sensory, motor, autonomic function, and consciousness

Question 2

Epilepsy

Answer 2

spontaneous recurrent seziures when basal level of excitation in the brain rises above threshold

Question 3

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)

Answer 3

38% od deaths in patients with epilepsy, no explanation

Question 4

Partial Seizure

Answer 4

begins in restricted brain regions and either remain localized or spreads to adjacent cortical areas

Question 5

Simple Partial Seizure

Answer 5

No loss of consciousness, abnormal electrical activity is localized

Question 6

Simple partial seizure in the motor cortex

Answer 6

involuntary contractions

Question 7

Simple partial seizure in the somatosensory cortex

Answer 7

altered sensory function

Question 8

Simple partial seizure in the temporal lobe

Answer 8

auditory hallucinations

Question 9

Complex partial seizure

Answer 9

loss of consciousness in addition to automatisms (simple motor activity) and localized abnormal electrical activity, preceded by an aura

Question 10

Partial seizures with secondary generalizations

Answer 10

loss of consciousness in addition to intense motor activity (convulsions) and SPREADING of abnormal electrical activity

Question 11

Generalized Seizures

Answer 11

involve the entire cortex

Question 12

Absence Seizures

Answer 12

Loss of consciousness, abnormal electrical activity throughout entire brain, NO convulsions, NO loss of postural control

Question 13

Tonic-Clonic Generalized Seizures

Answer 13

Loss of consciousness, abnormal activity throughout brian, tonic and clonic phases

Question 14

Tonic-Clonic Generalized Seizures description

Answer 14

tonic contractions of muscles accompanied by a cry, tonic phase patient is unable to breath, Clonic phase: limbs move rhythmically and breathing resumes

Question 15

Status Epilepticus

Answer 15

any type of seizure that is continuous

Question 16

Causes of seizures

Answer 16

metabolic, toxic, infectious, pharmaceutical

Question 17

Pharmaceuticals and seizures

Answer 17

lithium, CNS stimulants, antiarrhythmic drugs, antibiotics

Question 18

Asynchrony

Answer 18

Asynchrony of cortical areas (hyper polarizing, depolarizing, and neutral) is NORMAL in function

Question 19

Electrical activity during seizures

Answer 19

ABNORMAL SYNCHRONY of excitatory neurons in a large area

Question 20

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters generally prevent seizures, they are

Answer 20

GABA in the brain and glycine in the spinal cord

Question 21

Most common excitatory NT in the brain

Answer 21

Amino acids: glutamate and aspartate

Question 22

Penicillin and seizures

Answer 22

blocks GABA action (inhibitory NT)

Question 23

Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates and Seizures

Answer 23

GABA receptor binds GABA, benzodiazepine and barbiturates, enhancing the effect of inhibition
may be TREATMENT for seizures

Question 24

Strychine

Answer 24

inhibits glycine (inhibitory NT in spine) resulting in tonic contraction and possibly asphyxiation

Question 25

Goal of seizure treatment

Answer 25

reduce excessive firing from damaged neural tissue and prevent spread to normal tissue

Question 26

Pharmaceuticals for seizures act to

Answer 26

reduce spread to normal cortical areas

Question 27

Broad Spectrum Antiepileptic drugs

Answer 27

Valproate, Lamotrigine, Topiramate, Levetiracetam, Zonisamide (V, L, T, Z)

Question 28

Narrow Spectrum Antiepileptic drugs

Answer 28

for focal seizures; Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Gabapentin, Tiagabine, Oxcarbazepine, Pregabalin

Question 29

Anticonvulsant Medications

Answer 29

Benzo, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate; potentiate GABA

Question 30

Alternative treatments for seizures

Answer 30

Surgery, Vagal nerve stimulation, and ketogenic diet