Seizures Flashcards
Is an uncontrolled, sudden, excessive d/c of electrical activity in the brain
Manifestations may result in changes in behavior to full LOC
Epilepsy is defined as a chronic disorder after someone has 2 or more unprovoked seizures
Seizures may be c/b an abn electrical neuronal activity, an imbalance of neurotransmitters, esp GABA, or combo of both
Epilepsy w/a known cause is called secondary epilepsy, provoked, or symptomatic epilepsy
Causes
- brain damage from prenatal or perinatal injuries (e.g., a loss of O2 or trauma during birth, low birth wt)
- congenital abnormalities or genetic cond w/assoc brain malformations
- a severe head inj
- a stroke that restricts the amt of O2 to the brain
- an infection of the brain like meningitis, encephalitis, neurocysticercosis of the nervous system & is the main cause of acquired epilepsy in developing countries
- certain genetic synd or a brain tumor
Classification of Epileptic Seizures
- Generalized
- Partial
- Unclassified
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Usually involves many or all parts of the brain
Broken down into absence (staring & blinking w/o falling), myoclonic (jerking movements of the body), tonic-clonic (stiffening, falling, & jerking of the body), tonic (stiffening or rigidity of the muscles, particularly arms & legs & immediate LOC), & atonic (usually falling heavily to the ground, which may cause serious inj)
Generalized
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Only a small focal area of the brain is affected
Partial
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Meaning before a seizure
Pre-ictal or prodromal
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Meaning after the seizure
Post-ictal
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Meaning during the seizure
Ictal
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May incl pleasant or unpleasant odors, visualizations/hallucinations, the sense of butterflies in the stomach; a sense of deja vu; or just an intense feeling that seizure activity is going to happen
Now the medical community says this is a part of the seizure
Aura
Post-ictal
- Can last from 5-30 min or longer
- Can expect drowsiness, confusion, disorientation, nausea, hypoxia, HA, &/or migraine
- Is the recovery phase of the seizure
- May be diminished short-term memory & poor attention span
- Tonic phase - rigidity, stiffening of the arms & legs, arms flex & legs extend, LOC
- Clonic - rhythmic jerking of all extrem &/or whole torso
- Automatisms - are repetitive unconscious movements like lip smacking, chewing, swallowing, rubbing of the face or nose
Status epilepticus
- Is seizure activity that lasts longer than 5 min, or 2 or more seizures w/o the pt gaining consciousness
Causes of PROVOKED NON-Epileptic Seizures
Structural causes
- TBI, stroke, infarct, TIA, migraine HA, sleep disorders, vasculitis, hydrocephalus, IICP, HTN, encephalopathy, eclampsia, fever, encephalitis/meningitis, renal failure, lupus, malaria
Inadequate oxygen
- arrhythmias, CO poisoning, near drowning
Metabolic
- Hyper/hypo-natremia, glycemia, calcemia, magnesemia, underactive parathyroid
Substance abuse
- ETOH, ETOH withdrawal, cocaine, amphetamines
Prescription meds
- Abx like Cipro, ceftazidime, cyclosporines
- Buspar, thorazine, Demerol, Dilantin, theophylline, overdose of TCAs (amitriptyline)
Toxins
- lead
- strychnine
