Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Clin Neuro - SCI, PNS, Epilepsy, Neoplasms > Epilepsy > Flashcards

Epilepsy Flashcards

1
Q

Epilepsy is

A

Basically the neurons start firing at a significantly greater rate then they are supposed to

A sudden derangement of the nervous system due to a sudden, excessive, disorderly discharge of cerebral neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Terminology:

Seizures vs Epilepsy

A 
Seizures = single event
Epilepsy = recurrent seizures
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Causes of epilepsy

A

Idiopathic

Secondary – known cause (CVA, MS, infection)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Seizure Manifestations

A

-Loss of Consciousness
-Convulsive movements
(limbs, trunk, face)
-Impaired psychic function
(Sense that they are no
longer part of their own
body, or everything
seems to fade to
background)
-Disturbance of sensation
Numbness (esp. if 1o
sensory cortex),
-Visual hallucinations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Pathogenesis of epilepsy

A

If more excitatory than inhibitory neurotransmitters are released, the neuron will fire

Everyone has a certain about of excitatory and inhibitory NTs in the brain. So if there is an excessive amount of excitatory NTs to inhibitory NT it can potentially lead to a seizure. Medications try to balance these out either by inc. inhibitory or dec. excitatory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a convulsive seizure

A

If the disturbance flashes across the whole brain at once, it could produce a convulsive seizure, temporarily disrupting many of the functions of the brain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the Seizure Threshold

A

If you have a low threshold for seizures that means that there is good chance of having a seizure -this means that there is a lot of excitatory activity in brain
A lot of excitatory activity in the brain is caused from either having a lot of excitatory NT or very little inhibitory NTs

The relative proportions of each determine whether a person has a low threshold for seizures (because of the higher excitatory balance) or a high threshold (because of greater inhibition).

A low seizure threshold ↑ the risk of epilepsy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What factors determine the character of the seizure, impact on person and social consequences involved

A

1) The location of that event
2) The extent of its reach within the tissue of the brain
3) The duration of the event (how long it lasts)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

4 Types of Seizures

A

a) Generalized seizures
-Bilateral & symmetrical
w/o
focal onset
-May be idiopathic
b) Focal (Partial) seizures
-Never idiopathic
c) Status epilepticus
d) Non-epileptic seizures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Types of Generalized Seizures (4)

A

Grand Mal Seizures (Tonic-Clonic Seizures-tone to clonic)

Petit Mal Seizures (Absence Seizures)

Myoclonic Seizures

Atonic Seizures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Generalized Tonic-Clonic (grand mal) Duration

A

1 to 2 min

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Generalized Tonic-Clonic (grand mal) Seizure Sx

A 
A cry
Fall
Tonicity (rigidity)
Clonicity (jerking)
May have cyanosis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Generalized Tonic-Clonic (grand mal) Postictal Sx

A

Amnesia for seizure events
Confusion
Deep sleep

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Absence (petit mal) Duration

A

2 to 15 sec

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Absence (petit mal) Seizure Sx

A

Stare
Eyes fluttering
Automatisms if prolonged

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Absence (petit mal) Postictal Sx

A

Amnesia for seizure events
No confusion
Promptly resumes activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the most common & best known type of generalized seizure

A

Grand-mal seizures (Tonic-Clonic)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Prodrome means

A

Occurs several hours before the event

Apathy, depression, euphoria, myoclonic jerks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

An aura is

A

An ‘aura’ is the term that some people use to describe the warning they feel before they have a tonic clonic seizure.

occurs a few seconds before LOC
Turning of head, palpitations, unnatural sensations (i.e. butterflies in stomach)

(it is a warning sign before a tonic clonic seizure)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Grand mal seizure tonic phase, how long does it last and what happens to the person

A

Seizure – sudden LOC and fall

Tonic Phase (lots of tone) – 10-20 seconds:
Legs extend, arms in “hands up” position
Jaw snaps shut (tongue gets bitten), emits loud cry
Breathing ceases causing cyanosis
Bladder empties
Pupil fixed and dilated
Babinski signs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Grand mal seizure, clonic phase, how long does it last and what happens to the person

A

Clonic Phase (30-60 seconds)-body starts to relax from fully tonic contraction

Generalized coarse tremor (repetitive relaxation of tonic contraction)
Facial grimacing & frothing of the mouth
Continues to be apneic
Often salivates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Grand mal seizure, post-clonic phase, how long does it last and what happens to the person

A

Post-clonic phase – pt lies limp in a deep sleep (body relaxes and slowly returns to normal)

Pupillary reactivity returns
Breathing normalizes
After 5 min, awakens but appears drowsy/confused
May fall asleep for several hours more afterwards

23
Q

3 phases of a grand mal seizure

A

Tonic phase
Clonic phase
Post Clonic phase

24
Q

Petit Mal Seizures are

A

Lapses of awareness, sometimes w/ staring, that begin & end abruptly, lasting only 2-15 sec
There is no warning & no after-effect
More common in children than in adults
Usually begins age 4-12
Always idiopathic
Little, if any, motor activity – may see rhythmic movements of facial muscles (i.e. lipsmacking)
Can be induced by hyperventilation

25
Why do petit mal seizures happen and are there warning signs
no warning and no after affect - What we normally see is blank stares ore absents in awareness We don't know why it happens, but it usually happens when we are younger no motor activity when it happens
26
Myoclonic seizures are
Rapid, brief contractions of bodily muscles, which usually occur at the same time on both sides of the body contraction of the muscles - tonic seizures
27
Atonic seizures are
``` Abrupt loss of muscle tone Aka drop attacks Causes head drops, loss of posture, or sudden collapse ➡ head injuries Protective headgear is sometimes used Tend to be resistant to drug therapy ```
28
Which seizure is known for drop attacks
Atonic seizures- all the muscles stop working/loss of muscle tone, lead to “drop attacks” just fall to the ground (this is very dangerous, injuries to neck and face common)
29
What are partial seizures and what is the part of the brain it often affects
Most commonly seen in temporal lobe Partial seizures may spread to cause a generalized seizure, in which case the classification category is partial seizures secondarily generalized. Virtually any movement, sensory, or emotional symptoms can occur as part of a partial seizure, including complex visual or auditory hallucinations.
30
2 common subdivisions of partial seizures
Simple partial seizures – (-) LOC Complex partial seizures – (+) LOC
31
Simple partial duration
90 sec
32
Simple partial Seizure Sx
No LOC Sudden jerking Sensory phenomena
33
Simple partial Postictal Sx
Possible transient weakness or loss of sensation
34
Complex partial Duration
1 to 2 min
35
Complex partial Seizure Sx
May have aura Automatisms Unaware of environment May wander
36
Complex partial Postictal Sx
Amnesia for seizure events Mild to moderate confusion Sleepy
37
Complex partial seizure auras
Complex hallucinations of all senses Perceptual illusions Dyscognitive state: ↑ reality or familiarity (deja vu); unfamiliarity (jamais vu), depersonalization (i.e. undressing in public) Affective experiences: fear, anxiety, rage
38
Automatism ex, and happens with
Automatism example: hand tapping that keeps going, lip smacking Happens with complex partial seizures
39
Complex partial seizures and simple partial seizures
They do have LOC and can keep doing complex activities When you have a complex partial seizure they are a bit more involved. You start getting more hallucinations and decreased period of responsiveness and after the complex some sort of altered behavior
40
Status Epilepticus is
Literally a “continuous state of seizure” | Seizures are prolonged, or occur in a series, lasting > 30 minutes
41
What is one of the first things you should do if a person is having a seizure
Make sure person is safe and check the time
42
When should you call the hospital for a seizure
if it lasts more than 5 mins and the person is pregnant
43
Status Epilepticus likely causes
Do not know what causes it but some likely causes ``` Brain tumors or infections Craniocerebral trauma Cerebrovascular disease Ingestion of cocaine or other illegal drugs Toxic or metabolic disorders ```
44
Status epilepticus and history of seizures
Most people that this happens to have no history of seizures and do not have a h/o epilipsy
45
Nonepileptic Seizures aka and what is this
Pseudoseizures They have very similar symptoms as a seizure but they do not have the excessive electrical activity in the cortex of the brain.
46
Nonepileptic Seizures vs epileptic seizures
Episodes that briefly change a person's behavior & often look like epileptic seizures. Epileptic seizures are caused by abnormal electrical changes in the cortex, whereas nonepileptic seizures are not caused by electrical disruptions in the brain.
47
Seizure triggers are and can include
Typically unpredictable, triggers can include: Missed medication Sleep/wake cycle fluctuations Hormonal fluctuations Pregnancy & menstrual cycles Excessive use and/or withdrawal from alcohol or drugs Fever; physical stress Mental/emotional stress (worry, anxiety, anger) Hyperventilation
48
What is "reflex epilepsy" and name some triggers
When cause by one specific stimulus A condition in which seizures can be provoked by an external stimulus (flashing lights) or, occasionally, by an internal mental process (mathematical calculation). Fairly predictable in response to specific stimuli, and may coexist with spontaneously occurring seizures Triggers: flashing lights, high contrast color/shape/stripe patterns, complex mental processes (calculations)
49
Diagnosis of epilepsy
-Patient history -Neurological exam -Supporting blood work - to rule out -Electroencephalograph (EEG) (Records signals produced by electrical discharge of neurons) -MRI/CT of the brain - to rule out -PET scans if available -Must r/o other causes: TIA, hypoglycemia, fainting
50
Management of Epilepsy and can it be cured
There is no cure for epilepsy currently: - Medications - Surgery - Vagus Nerve Stimulation - Ketogenic Diet
51
When is surgery and option for epilepsy
For intractable surgery not responding to meds
52
What type of surgery is done for epilepsy
-Surgical removal of seizure-producing areas -Partial/complete lobectomy or cortical resection (Anterior temporal lobectomy most common) - Hemispherectomy - Corpus Callosotomy (so it doesn't travel to the other side of the hemisphere) - Multiple Sub-pial Transection (cutting the connections so seizure can not travel
53
Who would benefit from vagus nerve stimulation
For people who know their trigger, if they stimulate the vagus nerve they can limit the oncoming of the seizure

Clin Neuro - SCI, PNS, Epilepsy, Neoplasms (17 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions