antiseizure Flashcards
what is the 2nd most common neurological disorder
epilepsy
is epilepsy just 1 disorder
no, it encompasses many disorders
what characterizes epilepsy
recurrent seizures (chronic disease) - heretogenous symptom complex
what is a seizure
finite period of brain dysfunction resulting from abnormal discharge of cerebral neurons
what is an electroencephalogram
electrodes placed at standard positions on scalp to record field potentials caused by currents flowing as neurons in the brain fire APs
how do you figure out the degree of neural activity with electroencephalograms
you compare between pairs of electrodes (this allows a degree of localization of neuronal activity)
what are all seizures cause by
an imbalance between excitation and inhibition in brain
what is the mechanism of all seizures
they all differ
what are 2 types of partial seizures
simple and complex
what characterizes partial seizures
they have a localized onset
what are simple seizures like (3)
abnormal discharge with minimal spread - consciousness preserved
is consciousness preserved in simple partial seizures
yes
what are complex seizures like (4)
localized dischange with wide bilateral spread, usually limbic, loss of consciousness
is consciousness preserved in complex partial seizures
no
what is an aura
a sense that the seizure is starting
what are some weird things that can happen during complex seizures
altered consciousness. automatisms
what are automatisms and when do they happen (which seizure type)
fragmented behaviours (like lip smacking, swallowing…) - complex partial seizures
can you have a partial seizure that then generalizes to a tonic clonic seizures
yes
what are 5 types of generalized seizures
generalized tonic clonic, abence (petit mal), myoclonic jerks, atonic seizures, infantile spasms
what do generalized tonic clonic seizures look like
full blown attack with rigidity (tonic), followed by alternating relaxation and rigidity, and jerking of body (clonic)
what does Tonic mean
stiffening/rigidity
what does clonic mean
rhythmical jerking of body
how long does generalized tonic clonic seizure last
1-2 mins
what happens after a generalized tonic clonic seizure
postictal stupor (confused)