Term
| What is the hallmark of a partial seizure? |
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Definition
| Abnormal neural activity in one part of the brain, stays in that area |
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Term
| What are the partial seizure classes? |
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Definition
| Simple, complex, psychomotor epilepsy, Jacksonian epilepsy |
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Term
| What are the characteristics of simple partial seizures? |
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Definition
Confined to one region of cortex that serves as basic function such as motor movement or sensation
No impairment of consciousness |
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Term
| What are the characteristics of complex partial seizures? |
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Definition
Seizure in brain regions serving complex functions such as language, memory, emotions, etc.
Impairment of consciousness at onset or after the seizure |
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Term
| Psychomotor epileptic seizures are localized to what area of the brain? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the characteristics of psychomotor epileptic seizures? |
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Definition
Stereotyped purposive movements (rubbing hands, patting)
Bizarre behavior such as undressing combing hair, etc.
Lasts only a few minutes, patient has no recollection
Secondarily generalized (partial onset evolving into tonic-clonic) |
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Term
| Jacksonian epilepsy seizures are localized to what area of the brain? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the characteristics of jacksonian epilepsy? |
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Definition
Begins as a repetitive jerking of a particular muscle group
Begins on one side of the body (thumb, big toe, or angle of the mouth)
May involve much of the body within 2 min and dies down
Patient loses voluntary control but not necessarily consciousness |
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Term
| What is the hallmark of generalized seizures? |
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Definition
| Present in both hemispheres divided into phases |
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Term
| What are the phases of a generalized seizure? |
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Definition
Phase I: Interictal paroxysm
Phase II: tonic
Phase III: clonic
Phase IV: Post-ictal depression |
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Term
| What are the characteristics of the Tonic-Clonic (Grand mal) phases of a generalized seizure? |
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Definition
Sudden sharp contraction of muscles (Tonic) followed by alternate contraction & relaxation (Clonic)
Patients often bite their tongue and cry out (vocalization)- not because they feel pain
Loss of sphincter control
Cyanosis |
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Term
| What are the characteristics of the after seizure post-ictal phase of a generalized seizure? |
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Definition
Altered consciousness
Drowsiness or confusion for a variable period of time
Frequently, deep sleep |
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Term
| What causes the tonic phase of a generalized seizure? |
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Definition
| Sudden loss of GABA input initiates a long train of firing that lasts seconds. Clinically manifests as contraction of both agonist & antagonistic muscles |
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Term
| What causes the clonic phase of a generalized seizure? |
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Definition
| As GABA mediated inhibition is being restored, Glutamate mediated excitation alternates with inhibitory component |
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Term
| What are the characteristics of absence seizures (Petit Mal)? |
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Definition
Occur most often in children and may disappear at puberty
Less dramatic than grand mal, but many seizures per day
Patients abruptly cease whatever they are doing, stare vacantly for a few seconds with little or no motor disturbance. Recover abruptly with no after effects |
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Term
| What causes absence seizures (Petit Mal)? |
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Definition
| Abnormal synchronization of thalamocortical and cortical neurons caused by transient bursting activity of T-type calcium channels |
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Term
| What are the characteristics of Lennox-Gastaut seizures? |
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Definition
Occurs in children
Severe kind of epilepsy, multiple seizure types
Associated with progressive mental retardation
Refractory to a majority of anti-seizure medications |
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Term
| What are the characteristics of status-epilepticus seizures? |
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Definition
Continuous uninterrupted seizures requiring immediate attention
Occurs in “clusters” |
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Term
| What is Status Epilepticus? |
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Definition
More than 30 minutes of either continuous seizure activity or two or more sequential seizures without full recovery of consciousness between seizures
A medical emergency, can lead to permanent brain damage |
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Term
| What are febrile seizures? |
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Definition
| Grand mal seizures that occur in children in response to high fever |
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