Seizures

Question 1

How do you treat an active epilepticus episode?

Answer 1

Rectal diazepam

Question 2

Occurs in 1-5yo animals and causes generalized tonic-clonic seizures w/o interictal abnormalities

Answer 2

Idiopathic epilepsy

Question 3

Where do seizures originate?

Answer 3

Prosencephalon

Question 4

What is a seizure?

Answer 4

Hyper-syncrhonous firing from a group of neurons

Question 5

What types of focal/partial seizures are there?

Answer 5

Simple and complex

Question 6

Abnormal electrical activity in one area that can spread to other areas

Answer 6

Jacksonian seizure

Question 7

Tonic-clonic seizures are classified as _____ seizures

Answer 7

Generalized

Question 8

Abson seizures are classified as _____ seizures

Answer 8

Generalized

Question 9

With which category of seizures is consciousness lost?

Answer 9

Generalized

Question 10

Which type of focal seizure can have some loss of consciousness?

Answer 10

Complex

Question 11

Period of abnormal behavior leading up to a seizure

Answer 11

Pre-ictal

Question 12

Phase of the seizure itself

Answer 12

Ictal

Question 13

How long do most seizures last?

Answer 13

2min

Question 14

Period of abnormal behavior after a seizure

Answer 14

Post-ictal

Question 15

How long does a post-ictal phase usually last?

Answer 15

Less than 1h but can last a couple of days

Question 16

What do you call two or more seizures within 24h period?

Answer 16

Cluster seizures

Question 17

Why are cluster seizures serious?

Answer 17

One seizure makes the brain more likely to have another seizure (can lead to status epilepticus)

Question 18

What is status epilepticus?

Answer 18

One seizure lasting >5min or repeated seizure w/o recovery between events

Question 19

What are metabolic (extracranial) causes for seizures?

Answer 19

Toxins, hepatic encephalopathy, hypoglycemia

Question 20

What are structural (intracranial) causes of seizures?

Answer 20

Neoplasia, infectious dz, inflammation

Question 21

How do you dx a structural cause of a seizure?

Answer 21

MRI, CSF analysis, infectious dz testing

Question 22

What is the most common cause of seizures in dogs?

Answer 22

Idiopathic epilepsy

Question 23

When do seizures usually start in dogs?

Answer 23

Between 1-5yo

Question 24

How many seizure dogs can be well controlled with medication?

Answer 24

75%

Question 25

What emergency drugs do you give to a seizure that is happening now?

Answer 25

Benzodiazepines, barbiturates (enhance GABA which is an inhibitory receptor)

Question 26

What are side effects of benzos and barbiturates?

Answer 26

Sedation and resp depression

Question 27

What are maintenance seizure medications?

Answer 27

Phenobarbitol, potassium bromide, oral benzodiazepines

Question 28

This dug works at GABA, is metabolized in the liver, and causes PU/PD/PP and induces cytochrome p450 system (can change metabolism of other drugs)

Answer 28

Phenobarbitol

Question 29

Which liver enzyme will be increased with phenobarbitol?

Answer 29

ALP

Question 30

Which drug works at GABA, is excreted in the kidney, causes PU/PD/PP, and causes reactive pneumonitis in cats

Answer 30

Potassium bromide

Question 31

What are issues with oral benzodiazepines?

Answer 31

Tolerance develops in dogs, hepatic failure in cats