Seizures Flashcards
Seizure phases
Prodromal
Aural
Ictal
Postictal
Prodromal seizure phase
Only some experience this
feeling or sensation hours to days before seizures
S&S:
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Irritable
- HA
- Tremor
Aural seizure phase
Not everyone experiences this
Vision loss or blur/flicker Hallucination Deja Vu Strange smells/taste/sounds Tingling/numbness Emotional turbulence
Ictal seizure phase
Shaking or jerking of whole body/limb(s)
Grunting noises
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Postictal seizure phase
Lasts 5-30 mins after seizure
Confusion, drowsiness, nausea, HTN, HA
Tonic Clonic (Generalized seizures)
LOC lowers, fall to ground
Stiffen body (tonic) Jerking of extremities (clonic)
Dilated pupils, Cyanosis, tongue biting, incontinence
Sore after, may sleep
no memory of seizure
Typical Absence Seizure (generalized nonmotor)
Usually only in children
Staring spells, usually less than 10 seconds
Atypical Absence Seizure (generalized nonmotor)
Staring w/ other manifestations
- Eye blinking
- Jerking of lips
- More than 10 seconds
- Continues into adulthood
Myoclonic seizure (generalized seizure)
Rhythmic arm abduction (3 movements/sec) leading to progressive arm elevation
10-60seconds
Can make eyelids jerk too
Drugs for generalized nonmotor/myoclonic seizures
Zarontin
Divalproex
Klonopin
Focal onset seizures
Manifestations depend on brain region affected
Pt remain conscious and alert
Primary drugs for tonic clonic and focal onset seizures
Dilantin
Tegretol
Phenobarbital
Divalproex
Drugs for Status Epilepticus
Rapid acting IV Ativan or Valium
Refractory Status Epilepticus
Continuous seizures after first and second line therapy
Diagnostics for Dx seizures
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) + EEG for greater magnetic neuronal activity detection
CT or MRI to rule out lesion
CBC
UA- rule out metabolic disorders
