09/02/2015 Flashcards
If a patient has a first unprovoked seizure, what is their risk of having another seizure?
If the seizure is provoked by an acute brain dysfunction, what is the risk of recurrence?
If the seizure is provoked by permanent brain damage, what is the risk of recurrence?
1/3-1/2 of patients will have a second unprovoked seizure, often within 6 months of the first seizure.
If the seizure is due to acute brain dysfunction, recurrence is unlikely, at about 3% - 10%
If the seizure if due to permanent brain damage, recurrence is about 10%.
What are the common causes of seizures?
Vascular malformation (MRI) Infection (FBC)/ Inherited Trauma (hx) to the head. Can be historical. Alzheimer's / Alcohol Metabolic (Us&Es) Idiopathic Neoplasm (MRI) pSychaiatric
How does blood appear on a head CT?
Acute bleeding appears brighter than brain tissue, after a week it becomes isodark, after 2 weeks blood becomes darker than brain tissue.
What kind of sensations can patients have as an aura before seizure?
Hallucination of taste or smell Rising feeling in the epigastrium Visual changes like lines or dots Headache Paraesthesia De ja vu
What do generalised and partial mean with regards to seizure?
What do simple and complex mean with regards to seizure?
Generalised involves the whole brain/body
Partial only involves part of the brain/body
Secondary generalised describes a generalised seizure that starts as a partial seizure.
Simple partial seizure involves no alteration of consciousness
Complex partial seizure involves some alteration of consciousness.
Which drug do you use in absence seizures?
What is the characteristic pattern that you see in an EEG of absence seizure?
Ethosuxamide
3hz spike and wave pattern
Which is the most teratogenic anti epileptic, and which is the least teratogenic Antiepileptic?
Sodium Valproate is the most teratogenic
Carbamazepine is the lease teratogenic
What are some genetic and congenital causes of seizures
Tuberous sclerosis
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