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Problems of the Central Nervous System. EPILEPSY, SPINA BIFIDA, CEREBRAL PALSY 2009. SEIZURE DEFINED . 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.
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Problems of the Central Nervous System EPILEPSY, SPINA BIFIDA, CEREBRAL PALSY 2009
SEIZURE DEFINED • 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
EPILEPSY • Chronic disorder • Characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizure activity CAUSE OF EPILEPSY • abnormal electrical neuronal activity • Imbalance of neurotransmitters: Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)
CAUSE OF SEIZURES • Inherited • Cause is unknown (idiopathic) Can follow: • Birth trauma • Asphyxia during birth • Head injuries • Infectious disease • Toxicity (carbon monoxide and lead poisoning) • Fever • Drug/alcohol intoxication • Brain tumors
INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF SEIZURES • Classified by the part of the brain involved • PARTIAL SEIZURES beginning in one part of one cerebral hemisphere • Complex partial seizures • Simple partial seizures • GENERALIZED SEIZURES involving both cerebral hemispheres • UNCLASSIFIED SEIZURES: • Unclassified • Idiopathic
PARTIAL SEIZURES • Simple partial seizures • Complex partial seizures
PARTIAL SEIZURES • SIMPLE PARTIAL SEIZURES: • Unilateral movement of extremity • Unusual sensations • Autonomic or psychic symptoms (heart rate, flushing, epigastric discomfort) • May experience unusual or unpleasant sights, sounds, odors, tastes (aura) occurring before seizure • No loss of consciousness
COMPLEX PARTIAL • Automatism: Person remains motionless or moves automatically, but inappropriately for time and place (eg: lip smacking, patting, picking at clothes) • May experience excessive emotions of fear, anger, elation, or irritability • No memory of episode, loss of consciousness, black out 1-3 min
GENERALIZED SEIZURES (previously GRAND MAL) • TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURE • Lasts 2-5 min • Starts with tonic movements: stiffening or rigidity of the muscles of arms and legs • Loss of consciousness • Clonic movements follow: rhythmic jerking of all extremities • May bite tongue, incontinent of urine/feces • Followed by an hour of fatigue, confusion, lethargy
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 • Runs in families • 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
POST-ICTAL STATE • POST-ICTAL STATE: after seizure Pt is confused and hard to arouse, may sleep for hours
ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS • History • Identify causes • MRI • EEG • SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) – helps identify zone giving rise to seizures, can then be removed surgically
TREATMENT • Remove or treat cause • Surgically remove/excise the part of the brain that is causing the problem as long as it doesn’t produce neurologic deficits • Pt is alert • Generator may be implanted under the clavicle: helps control the seizure
MEDICATIONS: antiepileptics (AED’s) • Unknown why they work • Control seizures, do not cure • Starts with one med, dosage gradually increased looking for SE, may add another drug • Therapeutic blood levels: Blood levels checked, absorption varies among patients • Dosage changed with illness, weight changes, stress • Sudden withdrawal avoided • Lots of drug/drug interactions and drug/food interactions
SIDE EFFECTS OF DRUGS • Allergic reaction (skin) • Acute toxicity (seen initially) • Chronic toxicity (seen later in therapy) • REACTIONS seen in an organ • Common SE of Dilantin: gingival hyperplasia (swollen and tender gums)
ASSESSMENT DURING SEIZURE • Assess for preseizure behavior, aura, loss of consciousness • Assess seizure activity • Record the time the activity began • Assess for fecal or urinary incontinence • Assess for post seizure behavior (memory loss, loss of consciousness, lethargy)
RECORD SEIZURE ACTIVITY • Include onset time • Include focus of seizure (part of body involved) • Identify duration of seizure (time) • Identify change in respirations • Define progression of movement through body • Identify changes in neurological status • Describe post-ictal activity (duration, status, behavior)
IMPLEMENTATION • Gently lower the standing or sitting patient to the floor (supine) • Turn the head to the side, hyperextend neck and pull jaw slightly forward • Maintain patent airway • Have oxygen and suction available whenever a patient indicates they have a history of seizures!!! • PLACE NOTHING IN THE MOUTH!
IMPLEMENTATION CONTINUED • Do not restrain the patient • Remove dangerous objects the might injure the patient • Loosen tight or restrictive clothing • Record seizure activity
TEACHING • Wear Medic Alert • Avoid stimulant drugs (caffeine) may cause a seizure to break through the anticonvulsant medication • Avoid alcohol – can cause overdose of medications • Teach family/patient triggers to seizures: hypoglycemia, fatigue, exhaustion, hormonal changes, illness, stress, alcohol, caffeine, constipation, hyperventilation, excessive activity
TEACHING CONTINUED • High fiber diet/high fluid diet to prevent constipation caused by anticonvulsant meds • Adequate rest, stress reduction, good diet • Anticonvulsant meds cause gingival hyperplasia: need good dental care • Provide name of local Epilepsy Foundation • Assist in dealing with feelings
RESTRICTIONS until seizure free for 3 months to 1 year • No driving motor vehicles • No operating heavy machinery • No working in potentially dangerous situations • No swimming, no water sports • Possibly no tub bathing • LENGTH OF RESTRICTION DEPENDS UPON STATE REGULATIONS
MEDICATIONS Dilantin (phenytoin) Therapeutic drug level 5-20 ug/dl • Cannot be withdrawn suddenly • Watch for toxicity (nystagmus, ataxia, dysarthria, encephalopathy) • Do not combine with warfarin (Coumadin) SIDE EFFECTS: • Lethargy, abnormal movements, Gingival hyperplasia, mental confusion, cognitive changes
MEDICATIONS FOR STATUS EPILEPTICUS Fosphenytoin (Cerebyx) Diazepam (Valium); give slowly, drug of choice for status epilepticus, have ventilatory support available Lorazepam (Ativan) Given IV during status epilepticus
MEDICATIONS • Ethosuximide (Zarontin): N & V, gastric distress, gradually withdraw • Carbamazepine (Tegretol): expensive, watch effects on heart and lungs • Valproate (Depakene): effects liver, causes tremors, alopecia • Galbapentin (Neurotonin): dizziness, somnolence, wgt gain
MEDICATIONS Clonazepam (Klonopin): drowsiness, palpitations Felbamate (Felbatol): cognitive impairments Lamotrigine (Lamictal): tremor Levetiracetam (Keppra): somnolence Oxacarbazepine (Trileptal): tremor, loss of coordination
MEDICATIONS • Phenobarbitol (Luminal): sedation • Primidone (mysoline): lethargy, impotence • Tiagabine (Gabitril): dizziness, buckling knees • Topiramate (Topamax): fatigue, anorexia, depression • Zonisamide (Zonegran): somnolence, agitation
STATUS EPILEPTICUS • Series of generalized seizures tht occur without full recovery of consciousness between attacks • Also includes continuous electrical seizures lasting at least 30 minutes even without impairment of consciousness
RISKS OF STATUS EPILEPTICUS • Respiratory arrest at height of each seizure leading to hypoxia which can lead to brainb damage
FACTORS THAT TRIGGER STATUS EPILEPTICUS • Withdrawal of seizure meds • Fever • Concurrent infection
STATUS EPILEPTICUS MEDICAL EMERGENCY • cerbyx, Ativan, Valium IV • Oxygen & Airway device/intubation inserted between seizures • Suction • Hydration IV using glucose for hypoglycemia (high metabolic demand during seizure)
TREATMENT FOR STATUS EPILEPTICUS CONTINUED • May have to anesthetize with short acting barbiturate to stop seizure • Serum levels of anti- seizure meds • Cardiac/respiratory depression may be lifethreatening • Cerebral edema can occur
CEREBRAL PALSY • DEFINED AS: • A neurologic problem • Characterized by impaired movement and posture • It involves a lack of motor control of voluntary muscles • Comes from a lesion in the brain that occurred prenatally, at birth or postnatally
CAUSE OF CP • PRIMARY CAUSE: ANOXIA • SECONDARY CAUSE: INFECTION
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS • Delayed gross motor development: universal symptom • Abnormal motor performance • Alterations muscle tone: rigidity, stiffness • Abnormal postures: scissoring • Reflex abnormalities: persistance of primitive infantile reflexes
ASSOCIATED DISABILITIES • May have mental retardation • Common to have seizures • Attention deficit/hyperactivity • Sensory impairment
CLASSIFICATION • Spastic: increased muscle tone • Dyskinetic (athetoid): abnormal writhing movements, drooling, dysarthria, • Ataxic: difficulty with balance • Mixed: athetoid and spastic
DIAGNOSIS • Know growth and development • Observe in newborn nursery • Early recognition important
TREATMENT • TEAM APPROACH Goals: • Establish locomotion, communication, self-help • To gain optimum function • To correct associated defects • To provide educational opportunities
MOBILIZING DEVICES • Braces • Ambulation devices • Scooter boards • Wheeled go carts • Strollers • w/c
SURGERY • Orthopedic • TAL (tendon achilles lengthening) • release of tight wrist and hip muscles
NURSING CARE • FEEDING: • Avoid semi-reclining • Place in flexed position • Gentle upward stroking of the neck 2. DIET: high calorie diet 3. MAINTAIN SKIN INTEGRITY 4. PROMOTE SELF-CONCEPT
NURSING CARE CONTINUED 5. PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE 6. USE THE PARENTS AS BEST RESOURCE 7. PROVIDE REST 8. PREVENT/TREAT RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS 9. DENTAL PROBLEMS 10. PROVIDE PARENTAL SUPPORT
SPINA BIFIDA DEFINED: incomplete fusion of one or more vertebral laminae and defective development of the spinal cord ETIOLOGY: • Environmental • Genetic • Vitamin deficiency
CATEGORIES • MENINGOMYELOCELE OR MYELOMENINGOCELE • MENINGOCELE • SPINA BIFIDA OCCULTA
MENINGOMYELOCELE (MMC) • Most common • Involves the spinal cord • Have soft rounded protrusion • Sac containing meninges, portions of spinal cord and nerve roots and CSF • Sac protrudes through defective vertebra • MASS DOES NOT TRANSILLUMINATE