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6 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is a seizure, and what is epilepsy? |
A seizure is abnormal, paroxysmal, excessive discharge from CNS neurons. Epilepsy is recurrent, unprovoked seizures |
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What is the difference between generalized and focal (partial) |
1. Generalized: involves the brain diffusely 2. Focal (partial): involves discrete area of the brain, implying a structural lesion |
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Describe the three different types of generalized seizures |
1. tonic clonic - tonic phase (contractions, expiratory moan, cyanosis, pooling of secretion) lasts 10-20s, and clonic phase (relaxation) ~30s 2. Absence (petit mal) - transient lapse of consciousness without lapse of postural tone 3. myoclonic - sudden, brief contraction (found in infantile spasms and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy) |
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What are the features of a focal (partial) seizure? What makes them "complex"? |
Focal seizures involve focused motor, sensory, or autonomic abnormalities. They are considered complex if the patient has a change in mental status (making it hard to differentiate complex focal from absence seizures, where focal have preceeding focal abnormalities) |
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How can you help to differentiate seizure from syncope? |
1. aura - automatism or unusual behaviour vs. diaphoresis, nausea, tunnel vision 2. convulsions variable vs. <10s in syncope 3. post ictal state that can last greater than 30 mins 4. tongue biting and incontinence |
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What is the "ABCDE" pneumonic for causes of seizure? |
Alcohol withdrawal/illicit drugs/meds (beta-lactams, buproprion, metronidazole, etc) Brain tumor or penetrating trauma Cerebrovascular disease, including subdural hematoma, hypertensive encephalopathy Degenerative diseases of the CNS like alzheimers Electrolyte abnormalities (hyponatremia) and metabolic (uremia/liver failure/hypoglycemia) |
