Seizures - Atia Flashcards
4 “s”s of Seizure - define
Abnormal SYNCHRONOUS discharge of neurons in the CORTEXXX that produces STEREOTYPED behaviours, they are SELF-LIMITED (seconds to minutes)
What is epilepsy
2 or more unprovoked seizures
What characterizes post-ictal seizure
Disorientation
Confusion
What is the difference between location of onset for generalized and Psimple and Pcomplex seizures
Generalized - BOTH hemispheres simultaneously
PS and PC - FOCAL lesion within one hemisphere
Which type of seizure has an aura associated?
Partial seizure
Which types of seizures involve altered LOC
- Generalized
2. Partial complex
Which types of seizures have post-ictal confusion associated?
- Generalized (except absence)
2. Partial complex
4 types of generalized seizures
- Atonic
- Myoclonic
- Absence (maybe just thalamus, brief fade out and back in)
- Tonic-clonic
If you have a partial seizure what must you do?
Search for a FOCAL lesion - tumor, stroke, abscess
The tonic phase of a seizure is …
Stiffness
Characteristic of a complex partial seizure
Should be asymmetrical
If a partial seizure generalizes then
it is mostly tonic clonic (NOT absence)
Key differences between Absence and complex partial seizures?
- Age group (A- paediatric, CP - adult)
- Aura (A - absent, CP - sometimes)
- Frequency (A - 100s/day, CP - less frequent)
- Duration (A - 10-15s, CP - 1-2 min)
- Tonic clonic changes (A - NEVER, CP - Sometimes)
- Post-ictal confusion (A - absent, CP - +)
- EEF (A - GENERALIZE3Hz spike and wave, CP - Focal discharges)
- CT/MRI lesion (A - thalamic?, CP - FOCAL lesion)
- Treatment ( A - Ethosuximide, CP - various)
What % of the population has epilepsy and what is the risk of having one seizure in lifetime
1%
5%
M=F
DDx seizure vs syncope - awake or asleep?
Can be asleep in seizure, often awake in syncope