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ALTERATIONS OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. SEIZURES AND EPILEPSY. SEIZURE . Episodes of abnormal sudden, excessive, uncontrolled electrical discharge of neurons within the brain May result in alteration in consciousness, motor or sensory ability and/or behavior. CAUSE OF SEIZURES.
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ALTERATIONS OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM SEIZURES AND EPILEPSY
SEIZURE • Episodes of abnormal sudden, excessive, uncontrolled electrical discharge of neurons within the brain • May result in alteration in consciousness, motor or sensory ability and/or behavior
CAUSE OF SEIZURES • Birth trauma/Asphyxia during birth • Head injuries/ brain tumors • Infectious disease • Toxicity (carbon monoxide and lead poisoning) • Fever • Drug/alcohol intoxication • Metabolic disturbances • Inherited • Idiopathic (unknown cause)
ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS • History • MRI/ CT scan • EEG • SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) – helps identify zone giving rise to seizures, can then be removed surgically • Blood chemistry test
EPILEPSY • Chronic disorder • Recurrent unprovoked seizure activity CAUSE OF EPILEPSY • abnormal electrical neuronal activity • Imbalance of neurotransmitters: Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)
STATUS EPILEPTICUS • Two or more consecutive seizures that occur without full recovery of consciousness between attacks • Also includes continuous electrical seizures lasting at least 30 minutes
Types of Seizures • Generalized seizures -involves both cerebral hemispheres • Partial seizures (focal or local) • Begins in a part of one cerebral hemisphere • Complex- may cause loss of consciousness • Simple-remains conscious • Unclassified seizures
Video from faculty animation only chapter 44 partial seizure
GENERALIZED SEIZURES 6 TYPES • TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURE • Lasts up to a min. • Starts with tonic movements: stiffening or rigidity of the muscles of arms and legs • Loss of consciousness • Incontinent bladder/bowel • Clonic movements follow: rhythmic jerking of all extremities • May bite tongue • Followed by a postictal phase
POST-ICTAL STATE • POST-ICTAL STATE: after seizure Pt is confused and hard to arouse, may sleep for hours
GENERALIZED SEIZURES CONTINUED • Tonic seizures: • Abrupt increase in muscle tone • Loss of consciousness • Loss of autonomic signs for 30 sec to several minutes • Clonic seizure: • Lasts several minutes • Muscle contraction and relaxation
GENERALIZED SEIZURES CONTINUED • Absence seizure • Common in children ( familial) • Brief (seconds) loss of consciousness • Blank starring, returning to normal • May occur frequently throughout day • Myoclonic seizure: • Brief jerking/stiffening extremities • Singly or in groups • Lasts few seconds
GENERALIZED SEIZURES CONTINUED • Atonic(akinetic)seizure • Sudden loss of muscle tone for a few seconds, may fall • Followed by POSTICTAL(after seizure) confusion
Partial Seizures • Partial- only involves one side of the brain • Simple: person remains conscious • Complex: impaired consciousness bizarre behavior amnesia