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Problems of the Central Nervous System

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

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  1. Problems of the Central Nervous System EPILEPSY, SPINA BIFIDA, CEREBRAL PALSY 2009

  2. 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

  3. EPILEPSY • Chronic disorder • Characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizure activity CAUSE OF EPILEPSY • abnormal electrical neuronal activity • Imbalance of neurotransmitters: Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. PARTIAL SEIZURES • Simple partial seizures • Complex partial seizures

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. GENERALIZED SEIZURES CONTINUED • Atonic(akinetic)seizure • Sudden loss of muscle tone for a few seconds, may fall • Followed by POSTICTAL(after seizure) confusion

  13. POST-ICTAL STATE • POST-ICTAL STATE: after seizure Pt is confused and hard to arouse, may sleep for hours

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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)

  18. 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)

  19. 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)

  20. 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!

  21. IMPLEMENTATION CONTINUED • Do not restrain the patient • Remove dangerous objects the might injure the patient • Loosen tight or restrictive clothing • Record seizure activity

  22. 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

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. MEDICATIONS Clonazepam (Klonopin): drowsiness, palpitations Felbamate (Felbatol): cognitive impairments Lamotrigine (Lamictal): tremor Levetiracetam (Keppra): somnolence Oxacarbazepine (Trileptal): tremor, loss of coordination

  29. MEDICATIONS • Phenobarbitol (Luminal): sedation • Primidone (mysoline): lethargy, impotence • Tiagabine (Gabitril): dizziness, buckling knees • Topiramate (Topamax): fatigue, anorexia, depression • Zonisamide (Zonegran): somnolence, agitation

  30. 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

  31. RISKS OF STATUS EPILEPTICUS • Respiratory arrest at height of each seizure leading to hypoxia which can lead to brainb damage

  32. FACTORS THAT TRIGGER STATUS EPILEPTICUS • Withdrawal of seizure meds • Fever • Concurrent infection

  33. 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)

  34. 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

  35. CEREBRAL PALSY

  36. 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

  37. CAUSE OF CP • PRIMARY CAUSE: ANOXIA • SECONDARY CAUSE: INFECTION

  38. 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

  39. ASSOCIATED DISABILITIES • May have mental retardation • Common to have seizures • Attention deficit/hyperactivity • Sensory impairment

  40. CLASSIFICATION • Spastic: increased muscle tone • Dyskinetic (athetoid): abnormal writhing movements, drooling, dysarthria, • Ataxic: difficulty with balance • Mixed: athetoid and spastic

  41. DIAGNOSIS • Know growth and development • Observe in newborn nursery • Early recognition important

  42. TREATMENT • TEAM APPROACH Goals: • Establish locomotion, communication, self-help • To gain optimum function • To correct associated defects • To provide educational opportunities

  43. MOBILIZING DEVICES • Braces • Ambulation devices • Scooter boards • Wheeled go carts • Strollers • w/c

  44. SURGERY • Orthopedic • TAL (tendon achilles lengthening) • release of tight wrist and hip muscles

  45. 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

  46. 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

  47. SPINA BIFIDA

  48. SPINA BIFIDA DEFINED: incomplete fusion of one or more vertebral laminae and defective development of the spinal cord ETIOLOGY: • Environmental • Genetic • Vitamin deficiency

  49. CATEGORIES • MENINGOMYELOCELE OR MYELOMENINGOCELE • MENINGOCELE • SPINA BIFIDA OCCULTA

  50. 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

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