Seizures Flashcards
two or more recurrent seizures unprovoked by systemic or acute neurologic insults
epilepsy
excitatory
inhibitory
glutamate (like ach)
GABA (like dopamine)
most important neurophysiological study for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of epilepsy
EEG
Localized motor activity such as jerking of a limb, or the turning of the head.
simple partial seizure, not LOC
complex partial seizure
impaired consciousness
typically one minute
generalized seizures
- tonic clonic (lose tone then shake)
- check prolactin levels, they will go up
a momentary interruption of consciousness.
The typical absence starts suddenly and the patient stares blankly
absence seizure, typically in kids
sudden shock like muscle contractions, often confined to one or more limbs. There maybe a single jerk or multiple repetitions
myoclonic seizure
a sudden loss of muscle tone which may cause dropping of the head or a limb, or lead to the person falling to the ground
atonic seizure
adolescents and young adults that have a seizure think
Head trauma
Drug intoxication and withdrawal*
older adults that have a seizure think
Stroke
Brain tumor
Acute metabolic disturbances*
Neurodegenerative
absence seizures
ethosuximide
when to d/c anti epileptic drugs
seizure free >2 years
More than 30 minutes of continuous seizure activity or
Two or more sequential seizures spanning this period without full recovery between seizures
status epilepticus
how to treat status epilepticus
- lorazepam
- diazepam
- pheytoin
- phenobarbitol
