Things with benzos Flashcards
Two main groups of seizures
Generalized and partial
Generalized seizure
Loss of consciousness, may be only sign (thought to be from near simultaneous activity of entire cerebral cortex
Types of generalized seizures
Tonic-clonic
Absence (petit mal)
Absence seizures
Typically a few seconds. Appear altered without change in postural tone. Appear confused, detached or withdrawn.
May stare, twitch eyelids, lose continence, not respond. No postictal period.
Can happen 100X a day.
More likely in children, if in adults more likely to be minor complex partial (different cause and tx)
Partial (focal seizures)
Likely to be secondary to structural lesion
Discharge begins as localized area of cerebral cortex
Simple and complex
Simple partial
Remains localized, consciousness not affected;
Symptoms can help guess where seizure started.
Olfactory, gustatory - medial temporal lobe
Complex partial
Focal but consciousness is affected. Often caused by focal discharge in temporal lobe, sometimes referred to as temporal lobe seizure.
Can be diagnosed as psych problems as symptoms are so bizarre, including automatisms(Lip smacking, fiddling with clothing, repeating short phrases), visceral symptoms(butterflies from epigastric), hallucinations, memory issues, distorted perception and affective disorders.
Can produce time distortion, fear, paranoia, depression, elation, ectasy (used to be called psychomotor)
Important questions
Aura, abrupt or gradual onset, progression of motor activity, incontinence, presence of oral injury, local or generalized activity.
Common precipitating factors
Missed dose, med changes, dose changes, conversion from brand name drug, sleep deprivation, strenuous activity, infection, electrolyte disturbances, ETOH/drug use/discontinuation
If no previous hx of seizures ask
Recent injuries, nocturnal tongue biting, enuresis (bed wetting) hx of head injury, similar episodes missed as seizures, headache, preggo, metabolic disorders (lyets, hypoxia, systemic illness) coagulopathy or anticoagulation meds, toxins, drugs, ETOH
Physical injuries to look for
Vitals, BGL Head/neck injuries Posterior shoulder dislocation is easy to miss Tongue/mouth lacs Pulmonary aspiration
Todd’s paralysis
Transient focal deficit (usually unilateral), should resolve within 48 hours
Causes of seizures
Trauma (recent or remote) Anything CNS - bleed/lesion/mass/neuro diseases Congenital Metabolic Sugars, salts, hyperosmolar states Uremia, liver failure Toxins/drugs/ETOH Eclampsia (up to 8 weeks postpartum) Hypertensive Cardiac arrest, anything anoxic/ischemic
Psuedoseizures
Associated with conversion disorder(neurological symptoms which cannot be explained), panic disorder, psychosis, impulse control, Munchausen
Suspect if occur in response to emotional upset, or only with witnesses present.
Cellular changes 5 minutes of seizing
Decreased expression of GABA receptors, and increased expression of both glutamine and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors
Blood brain barrier compromised, potassium and albumin leak in which are hyperexcitatory
20 minutes into seizure
Hypotension, hypoxia, acidosis, hyperthermia, hypoglycemia.
Possibly cardiac dysrhythmias, rhabdo, pulmonary edema
2 hours into seizure
Neurotoxic amino acids and calcium, leading to permanent neuronal necrosis and apoptosis
Dilantin
Not compatible with glucose-containing solutions
Status tx
Benzo (loraz 2mg or 0.1mg/kg)
Diazepam (10-20mg) +
Phenytoin 20mg/kg at 50mg/min
or Levetiracetam 2000-4000mg
Refractory status tx
IV midaz 0..2mg/kg
IV propofol 1mg/kg then 1-10mg/kg/h or ketamine 5mg/kg/hr
Or phenobarb 20mg/kg at 50-75mg/min
Fosphenytoin
Water soluble prodrug of phenytoin. Similar onset, effectiveness, and cardiac sides.
Fewer infusion site reactions (no propylene glycol and ethanol as diluents) and can therefore be infused quickly., making it preferred over phenytoin dose is PE (phenytoin equivalent)
Load at 20PE/kg at 150PE/min over 10-15 minutes
Can be given IM
Phenytoin dose
50mg/kg (usually need in excess of 1000mg)
25mg/min up to 50 if in status epi
Not too fast as propylene glycol depresses myocardium
Valproic acid
20mg/kg IV
Hepatic failure and pancreatitis mean US FDA has issued black box warning
Levetiracetam
May inhibit voltage-dependent calcium channels and facilitate GABA transmission
20mg/kg IV
Lacosamide
200mg IV over 15 minutes
Potential alternative for status epi
Refractory status epi definition
Persistent seizure activity despite IV admin of two adequately dosed antiepi agents, and usually exceeds 60 minutes.
Propofol for status epi
started at 2-10mg/kg/h titrated to effect
>40mg/kg starts to risk hypotension and propofol infusion syndrome
Midaz dose for status epi
0.05-0.4mg/kg/hr
Ketamine for status epi
0.5-4.5mg/kg or infusion of up to 5mg/kg/hr
Causes of psychomotor agitation
Psychosis, mania, withdrawal, drugs, delirium, depression/anxiety, meds, pain, worsening of chronic underlying illness
QTc prolonged at
450 in men
460 in women
500 from meds is considered highly significant