Chapter 45 COPY

Question 1

SEIZURES VS. EPILEPSY: Seizures
-What is a seizure?

Answer 1

Transient (temporary) neurological events caused by excessive or abnormal neuronal electrical discharges

Question 2

SEIZURES VS. EPILEPSY: Seizures
-Essentially, what causes a seizure?
-What does this do?

Answer 2

When the brain suddenly fires too much OR fires in an uncontrollable way –> this abnormal activity disrupts the brain function

Question 3

SEIZURES VS. EPILEPSY: Seizures
-What are seizures manifested by?

Answer 3

Disturbances of skeletal motor function, sensation, autonomic visceral function, behavior, or consciousness

Question 4

SEIZURES VS. EPILEPSY: Seizures
-Describe seizures in a short sentence
-Who can it happen to?

Answer 4

-SINGULAR event/episode of abnormal, excessive, synchronous, electrical activity in the brain
-ANYONE at ANY time under certain conditions, such as fever, head injury, low blood sugar

Question 5

SEIZURES VS. EPILEPSY: Epilepsy
-What is this?
-What kind of disorder is it?

Answer 5

-Chronic neurological conditions characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures –> recurrent and enduring (continuous) predisposition to seizures
-seizure disorder

Question 6

SEIZURES VS. EPILEPSY: Epilepsy
-How is epilepsy diagnosed?

Answer 6

By having 2 or more unprovoked seizures OR having one seizure with high likelihood of recurrence

Question 7

SEIZURES VS. EPILEPSY
-What is the KEY DIFFERENCE?

Answer 7

-One seizure ≠epilepsy
-Epilepsy = recurrent seizures

Question 8

SEIZURE TYPES
-What are the 3 types of seizures?

Answer 8

1. Focal onset
2. Generalized onset
3. Unknown onset

Question 9

SEIZURE TYPES
-What is the type of seziure based on?

Answer 9

the initial manifestation of symptoms –> what does it look like when the person has a seizure?

Question 10

SEIZURE TYPES
-Why does classification matter?

Answer 10

-Because it guides treatment!!! -Different seizure types respond to different treatments/medications

Question 11

SEIZURE TYPES: Predisposing Factors
-What are 4 predisposing factors?

Answer 11

1. Head injury
2. Meningitis
3. Brain tumors
4. Metabolic disorders (electrolyte imbalance, fever, acidosis)

Question 12

GENERALIZED ONSET
-What type of seizure is this?

Answer 12

Involves the whole brain (both hemispheres)

Question 13

GENERALIZED ONSET
-What is the KEY distinction?
-Why?

Answer 13

-Loss of consciousness
-Consciousness is ALWAYS impaired because of the involvement of the thalamus and reticular activating system (RAS)

Question 14

GENERALIZED ONSET
-What are the 2 categories of generalized onset?

Answer 14

Motor and nonmotor

Question 15

GENERALIZED ONSET
-Describe motor generalized onset (5)

Answer 15

-Has convulson/jerking
1. Tonic-clonic
2. tonic
3. myoclonic-tonic-clonic
4. myoclonic-atonic
5. atonic

Question 16

GENERALIZED ONSET
-What is nonmotor generalized onset also called?
-Describe it

Answer 16

-Absence
-a brief, non-convulsive seizure characterized by a person suddenly stopping all activities & staring blankly into space

Question 17

GENERALIZED ONSET
-How does the person appear during nonmotor generalized onset?

Answer 17

Absent or like they are daydreaming

Question 18

GENERALIZED ONSET
-What are the types of things that occur with nonmotor generalized onset? (4)

Answer 18

1. typical
2. atypical
3. myoclonic
4. eyelid myoclonia

Question 19

GENERALIZED ONSET
-How long does nonmotor generalized onset last?

Answer 19

A few seconds, but should seek medical care

Question 20

NURSING INTERVENTIONS
-What is the most important thing?
-What should you tell them to do?
-____ of seizures is important. Why?

Answer 20

-Ensure safety!
-Tell them to lay on the floor OR find a wall to slide down against
-Timing –> the longer it lasts, the more brain damage is happening

Question 21

STATUS EPILEPTICUS
-What is this?

Answer 21

-Continuing series of seizures that can be life-threatening
-NO period of recovery between episodes

Question 22

STATUS EPILEPTICUS
-What can this occur with?
-There is a greater concern with what?

Answer 22

-All types of seizures
-Generalized onset tonic-chronic seizures because it affects the whole brain!!!

Question 23

STATUS EPILEPTICUS
-What can occur with this?
-What would this be caused from?

Answer 23

-Irreversible brain damage & potential death
-hypoxia, cardiac dysrhythmias, or lactice acidosis (if airway is not maintained & seizure activity is NOT stopped)

Question 24

STATUS EPILEPTICUS
-What can you do if the patient is experiencing a seizure?

Answer 24

-Put all 4 side rails up ONLY for the time they are seizing because they could fall

Question 25

**SEIZURE TREATMENT** -What is the most important thing during a seizure?

Answer 25

Safety!!!

Question 26

**SEIZURE TREATMENT** -What are 3 things you MUST do?

Answer 26

1. Maintain airway 2. Protect from injury 3. Document course of seizure

Question 27

**SEIZURE TREATMENT** -How do you maintain the airway?

Answer 27

DO NOT put anything in their mouth & turn them on their left side

Question 28

**SEIZURE TREATMENT** -How do you protect them from injury?

Answer 28

Move objects out of the way

Question 29

**SEIZURE TREATMENT** -What is documenting the course of the seizure useful for? (2)

Answer 29

1. Identifying the region/location of the brain that is being affected 2. Helps note changes in seizure pattern

Question 30

**SEIZURE TREATMENT** -What kind of medications are given? -What do they do? -Describe how it is taken

Answer 30

-Anticonvulsant medications -suppress seizure activity -They are continued until there are NO seizures for **AT LEAST 2 YEARS** & then they are gradually withdrawn

Question 31

**SEIZURE TREATMENT** -Do seizures have a cure?

Answer 31

No

Question 32

**SEIZURE TREATMENT** -What do you tell the patient to avoid?

Answer 32

Seizure triggers

Question 33

**SEIZURE TREATMENT** -What is the last resort?

Answer 33

Surgery --> removal of seizure foci or neurostimulation