Seizuring patient - SA/LA Flashcards
Define seizure
electrical imbalance between excitation and inhibition, they have a certain rhythmicity
How can seizures be classified by CS?
FOCAL: when people appear absent
GENERALISED: tonic, clonic,
* don’t use the petit-mal and grand-mal seizure
Describe focal seizures
SIMPLE FOCAL: no loss of consciousness
COMPLEX FOCAL: impairment of consciousness
FOCAL SEIZURE WITH SECONDARY GENERALISATION
2 types of generalised seizures
Convulsive or non-convulsive
Define status epilepticus
- prolonged seizure activity
- > / 5 mins (clinical)
- > / 30 mins (basic science) –> brain damage
- life-threatening emergency always
Describe cluster seizures
> / 2 seizures in a 24 hour period, very serious!
Name 4 classifications of seizures
- prodrome
- aura
- ictus
- post-ictal
Define prodrome
behaviour changes that occur hours or days before the seizure
Define aura
sensory/ focal onset seizures may start with a sensory experience such as a perceived smell or a feeling of deja vu. The existence of aura in animals is difficult to prove but owners often report a behavior change of their dog minutes before the ictus.
What is ictus?
the seizure event itsel
What is post-ictus?
neurological status alternations hours or days after the seizure
How can seizures be classified over time?
- self-limiting
- clustered or continuous (status epilepticus)
- reflexive
Describe a self-limiting seizure
= focal or generalised types
Describe a clustered or continuous (status epilepticus) seizure
= focal or generalised types
What causes a reflexive seizure?
a precipitating stimuli
Classic - CS - feline seizure
- lip smacking
- hypersalivation
- yowling (consider feline dementia as alternative ddx in older cats with this CS).
Name 5 events that can mimic seizures.
- syncope
- narcolepsy
- pain
- vestibular syndrome
- movement disorders (e.g. Scotty Cramp)
Outline syncope
- partial or complete loss of consciousnesss
- lack of motor activity
- no post-ictal signs
- shorter in duration
- can mimic seizures
What is narcolepsy?
= sleeping disorder, very rare
- stimulated often by excited, food, drugs
- can mimic seizures
Outline different breeds and movement disorders
- scotty cramp
- CKCS - episodes of tetany, hypertonicity, deer-stalking
- Norwich terriers
- Boxers - paroxysmal dystonic choreathetosis
- Bichon frises - similar to boxers
Classic signs of seizures
- typically last 1 minute
- exhibit several stages
- often, but not always, occur at rest or out of sleep
- clonic movemetns (rhythmic mm contractions are common in both partial and generalised seizures)
- most recurrent seizures respond at least in part to AEDs
What is an EEG?
= electroencephalogram, easures the electrical activity of the brain
T/F: a seizure can happen without pathology
True
How can seizures be classified by aetiology?
- SYMPTOMATIC or SECONDARY: structural brain lesion
- REACTIVE SEIZURE: metabolic or toxic cause
- IDIOPATHIC or PRIMARY EPILEPSY: suspected genetic cause
- POSSIBLE SYMPTOMATIC or CRYPTOGENIC SEIZURE: rule out only via PME
