Seizures/Epilepsy

Question 1

Seizure Definition

Answer 1

Transient excessive/synchronous abnormal electrical discharge of neurons in the brain

Question 2

Epilepsy Definition

Answer 2

2+ unprovoked seizures

Question 3

3 Ways to Classify Seizures

Answer 3

Symptoms (sens/motor/psych), distribution, or alteration of consciousness

Question 4

2 General/Distribution Classifications

Answer 4

Partial (focal) seizures - start in localized area of cortex and can spread (secondary generalized seizure)
Generalized seizures - start in entire cortex at once, like in central trigger (thalamus)

Question 5

2 Kinds of Partial Seizures

Answer 5

Simple - no change in consciousness/awareness

Complex - change

Question 6

Simple Partial Seizures 2.2 Symptoms

Answer 6

Positive - sensory get tingling and hallucination

Motor get unilateral jerks or stiffness and Jacksonian march

Question 7

Jacksonian March

Answer 7

Type of simple partial motor seizure where you get electrical discharge spreading along motor strip, so twitching that spreads across body hand-> mouth

Question 8

Complex Partial Seizures 4 Symptoms

Answer 8

Automatisms
Aura
Postictal confusion
Postictal focal deficits

Question 9

4 Kinds of Generalized Seizure

Answer 9

Tonic-clonic: increased tone then rhythmic movement
Absence - unresponsiveness
Myoclonic - brief, jerky movement
Atonic - lose tone and fall down

Question 10

2 Other Features of Tonic Clonic

Answer 10

Epileptic cry and incontinence

Question 11

EEG Reading of Absence Seizure

Answer 11

3 Hz spike/wave generalized discharges

Question 12

Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

Answer 12

Usually myoclonic (can be others) exacerbated by EtOH and sleep deprivation, so college kid

Question 13

Lennox-Gastaut

Answer 13

Childhood syndrome w/ mental retardation that can have any kind of seizure

Question 14

Benign Rolandic

Answer 14

Childhood seizures at night, either simple partial (mouth/face) or tonic clonic

Question 15

AED Initiation Criteria

Answer 15

Begun after 2 seizures that aren’t provoked

Question 16

Phenytoin/Carbamazepine 2 Uses

Answer 16

Partial seizures (narrow spectrum)/secondary generalized seizures

Question 17

Valproate 3 Uses

Answer 17

Absence, generalized, and myoclonic seizures

Question 18

Valproate Major Side Effect

Answer 18

Pregnancy problems, so no women of reproductive age

Question 19

Ethosuximide Use

Answer 19

Absence seizures

Question 20

Most Important Part of Seizure Workup

Answer 20

History