Seizures COPIED Flashcards
(26 cards)
Seizures definition
episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that cause involuntary movements, sensations, or thoughts.
non-epileptic causes of seizures
- head trauma (sub-dural haematomas)
- stroke
- brain tumours
- hypoxia
- hypoglycaemia
- fever
- chronic alcohol withdrawal
- infections (sepsis, pneumonia)
Partial (focal) seizure.
Two types.
originates in one cerebral hemisphere.
Patient DOESN’T loss consciousness.
(a) Simple partial seizure; conscious not altered.
(b) complex partial seizure - altered consciousness and px exhibits repetitive behaviours.
generalized seizure
BOTH cerebral hemispheres.
LOSS of CONSCIOUSNESS
what can preceed a seizure?
a sensation or mood change
what are the type main types of generalized seizures?
(a) tonic-clonic (grand mal)
(b) absence (petit mal)
Clonic definition
Fast stiffening and relaxing of a muscle that happens repeatedly.
Repeated jerking.
The movements cannot be stopped by restraining or repositioning the arms or legs.
tonic
stiffening of all the muscles. back aches. person loses conscious and falls to the floor.
Myoclonic seizures
brief, shock-like jerks of a muscle or a group of muscles.
can be quite normal (eg. when falling asleep)
What kind of seizure activities are there?
- motor
- sensory
- cognitive and psychic
- autonomic disturbances
What is status epilepticus?
recurrent episodes of tonic-clonic seizures without regaining consciousness or normal muscle movement between episodes.
Seizures definition
episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that cause involuntary movements, sensations, or thoughts.
non-epileptic causes of seizures
- head trauma
- stroke
- brain tumours
- hypoxia
- hypoglycaemia
- fever
- chronic alcohol withdrawal
Partial (focal) seizure.
Two types.
originates in one cerebral hemisphere.
Patient DOESN’T loss consciousness.
(a) Simple partial seizure; conscious not altered.
(b) complex partial seizure - altered consciousness and px exhibits repetitive behaviours.
generalized seizure
BOTH cerebral hemispheres.
LOSS of CONSCIOUSNESS
what can preceed a seizure?
a sensation or mood change
what are the type main types of generalized seizures?
(a) tonic-clonic (grand mal)
(b) absence (petit mal)
Clonic definition
Fast stiffening and relaxing of a muscle that happens repeatedly.
Repeated jerking.
The movements cannot be stopped by restraining or repositioning the arms or legs.
tonic
stiffening of all the muscles. back aches. person loses conscious and falls to the floor.
Myoclonic seizures
brief, shock-like jerks of a muscle or a group of muscles.
can be quite normal (eg. when falling asleep)
MOA of diazepam, lorazepam and midazolam
Facilitate GABA transmission that counteracts the excessive excitatory neurotransmission. (i.e. neural inhibiton)
“enhances GABA-mediated chloride flux”
What is VITAL in management of epileptic fit?
maintain a patent airway
(may need to insert a nasophargyeal tube)
High flow oxygen
Check BM
Cardinal differences between syncope and epileptic fits?
syncope has no post-ictal phase
no tongue biting with syncope
Syncope has a faster recovery period
What could epileptic fits and syncope have in common?
they both may have myoclonic jerks (shaking), and even urinary incontinence.
