Epilepsy Flashcards
PRODROMAL phase
Aura may be experienced
Tonic phase
Sudden loss of consciousness Increased Tony’s of voluntary muscles Person falls to the ground Pupils dilate and are non reactive to light Apnoea +\- cyanosis Lasts 10-20 seconds
Clonic phase
Rhythmic, jerky contraction and relaxation of muscles
Hyperventilation
Hypersalivation
Incontinence of urine and sometimes faeces
Last approx 30-40 seconds
Post Ictal phase
The tonic and clonic phases together are called the ictal period.
Muscles relax
Confusion, disorientation and amnesia of event are common
Headache and muscular ache
Deep sleep for several hours post seizure
Nursing management
Do not leave patient alone
Remove risks- protect patients head
Ensure bed rails are up
Assess and observe patient is maintaining airway
-turn pt on side if possible
-suction prn
If sever prolonged/cyanosed
-consider o2 therapy close to pt.
If person is not known to have epilepsy consider other causes eg. low bsl
Assess loc
Notify medical officer
What to document
Time of seizure Activity pre seizure Did the person experience and aura First sign of seizure Duration of seizure Amount of time person take to respond post seizure Nursing interventions during Any residual deficits
Possible complications
Biting of younger or cheek
Head injury from falling
Broken bones
Skin tear
Rarely-status epilepticus
-continuous seizure lasting >5 minutes or
-2 or more seizures with no recovery in between
Possible causes; abrupt withdrawal from anti-epileptic drugs, alcohol or fever
-medical emergency
Generalised seizure
Tonic clonic Absence Myoclonic Tonic Atonic
Focal origin seizure
Focal onset seizure- retaining awareness
Focal onset seizure (complex partial seizure) - altered awareness
Tonic clonic seizure
Most common type of generalised seizure
Symptoms include shallow breathing, cyanosis, hypersalivation and agitation
Absence seizure
Often starts in childish and can be mistaken for daydreaming
Characterised by staring, loss of expression, unresponsive was, eye blinking and upward eye movement
Can last 2-10 seconds and end abruptly
Immediate recovery with no memory of seizure
Myoclonic seizure
Intense muscle jerks usually involving the upper body (often mistaken as clumsiness)
No impairments of consciousness by often feel confused or drowsy
Tonic seizure
Sudden, brief stiffening of muscles causing the person to become rigid and fall rapidly
recovery is swift, but injuries are sustained
Atonic seizure
Sudden and brief loss of muscle tone in the whole body
Person becomes limp and collapses
No noticeable LOC
