MDC4 FINAL KEY CONCEPTS AND PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
◉ tonic-clonic seizure (grand mal).
Answer: begins on both sides of the brain, but can start in one side
and spread to the whole brain.
LOC
muscles stiffen
jerking movements
last 1 to 3 minutes and take longer for a person to recover.
◉ Tonic Seizure.
Answer: a sudden stiffness or tension in the muscles of the arms,
legs or trunk. The stiffness lasts about 20 seconds and is most likely
to happen during sleep. Tonic seizures that occur while the person is
standing may cause them to fall. After the seizure, the person may
feel tired or confused
◉ Clonic seizures.
Answer: repeated jerking movements of the arms and legs on one or
both sides of the body, sometimes with numbness or tingling. If it is
a focal (partial) seizure, the person may be aware of what's
happening. During a generalized seizure, the person may be
unconsciou
,◉ Myoclonic seizures.
Answer: brief shock-like jerks of a muscle or group of muscles. They
occur in a variety of epilepsy syndromes that have different
characteristics. During a myoclonic seizure, the person is usually
awake and able to think clearly.
◉ Atonic.
Answer: muscles suddenly become limp. Part or all of the body may
become limp
◉ complex/automatism seizure.
Answer: nonpurposeful, stereotyped, and repetitive behaviors that
commonly accompany focal impaired awareness seizures (in the
semiologic classification, they define automotor seizures). The
behavior is inappropriate for the situation. Patients are usually
amnestic to their automatisms.
◉ Simple seizure.
Answer: A simple partial seizure will affect only one area of your
brain. It doesn't cause you to lose consciousness
◉ Causes of seizures Primary.
Answer: idiopathic
,genetic factors
◉ Causes fo seizures secondary.
Answer: tumor or trauma
metabolic disroders
acute alchohol withdrawl
electrolyte imbalance
fever
stroke
TBI
substances
heart disease
◉ Seizure Diagnostic testing.
Answer: EEG
CT/MRI
SPECT/PET
metabolic labs
◉ seizure interventions medications Preventative.
Answer: Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) (most widely used)
• Fosphenytoin (Cerbryx)
, • Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Tegretol XR, Tegretol-CR image,
Carbatrol)
• Oxcarbazepine (Oxtellar, Trileptal)
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• Valproic acid (Depakote, Depakoke ER, Epival image)
• Primidone (Mysoline)
• Gabapentin (Neurontin)
• Pregabalin (Lyrica)
• Levetiracetam (Keppra)
• Topiramate (Topamax)
• Ezogabine (Potiga) (first approved potassium channel opener drug
approved for adjunctive management of partial-onset seizures)
◉ Seizure interventions prevent injury.
Answer: bring to floor
roll on side
clear objects away
observe and documetn
loosen clothing if restrictive
oral suction in mouth PRN
◉ Status epilepticus.
QUESTIONS
◉ tonic-clonic seizure (grand mal).
Answer: begins on both sides of the brain, but can start in one side
and spread to the whole brain.
LOC
muscles stiffen
jerking movements
last 1 to 3 minutes and take longer for a person to recover.
◉ Tonic Seizure.
Answer: a sudden stiffness or tension in the muscles of the arms,
legs or trunk. The stiffness lasts about 20 seconds and is most likely
to happen during sleep. Tonic seizures that occur while the person is
standing may cause them to fall. After the seizure, the person may
feel tired or confused
◉ Clonic seizures.
Answer: repeated jerking movements of the arms and legs on one or
both sides of the body, sometimes with numbness or tingling. If it is
a focal (partial) seizure, the person may be aware of what's
happening. During a generalized seizure, the person may be
unconsciou
,◉ Myoclonic seizures.
Answer: brief shock-like jerks of a muscle or group of muscles. They
occur in a variety of epilepsy syndromes that have different
characteristics. During a myoclonic seizure, the person is usually
awake and able to think clearly.
◉ Atonic.
Answer: muscles suddenly become limp. Part or all of the body may
become limp
◉ complex/automatism seizure.
Answer: nonpurposeful, stereotyped, and repetitive behaviors that
commonly accompany focal impaired awareness seizures (in the
semiologic classification, they define automotor seizures). The
behavior is inappropriate for the situation. Patients are usually
amnestic to their automatisms.
◉ Simple seizure.
Answer: A simple partial seizure will affect only one area of your
brain. It doesn't cause you to lose consciousness
◉ Causes of seizures Primary.
Answer: idiopathic
,genetic factors
◉ Causes fo seizures secondary.
Answer: tumor or trauma
metabolic disroders
acute alchohol withdrawl
electrolyte imbalance
fever
stroke
TBI
substances
heart disease
◉ Seizure Diagnostic testing.
Answer: EEG
CT/MRI
SPECT/PET
metabolic labs
◉ seizure interventions medications Preventative.
Answer: Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) (most widely used)
• Fosphenytoin (Cerbryx)
, • Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Tegretol XR, Tegretol-CR image,
Carbatrol)
• Oxcarbazepine (Oxtellar, Trileptal)
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• Valproic acid (Depakote, Depakoke ER, Epival image)
• Primidone (Mysoline)
• Gabapentin (Neurontin)
• Pregabalin (Lyrica)
• Levetiracetam (Keppra)
• Topiramate (Topamax)
• Ezogabine (Potiga) (first approved potassium channel opener drug
approved for adjunctive management of partial-onset seizures)
◉ Seizure interventions prevent injury.
Answer: bring to floor
roll on side
clear objects away
observe and documetn
loosen clothing if restrictive
oral suction in mouth PRN
◉ Status epilepticus.
