SEIZURES

SEIZURES

MIKAYLA BACHICHA

Discuss the pathophysiology of seizures while listing medical conditions that can cause them. In your own words, describe the different types of seizures discussed in your book. You are dispatched to a 36 year old male who is having a seizure. When the you arrive on scene, you find the patient sitting up against a wall. He is disoriented and is agitated. What initial management is indicated for this patient? Describe your assessment based approach of this patient. Be sure to include scene size up, primary assessment, and secondary assessment

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF SEIZURES

A seizure is a sudden alteration in the brain's functions caused by a massive electrical discharge in a group of nerve cells in the brain. The electrical discharge is abnormal and is typically produces changes in mental activity and behavior range from a brief trancelike periods of inattention to complete unresponsivness and the jerky muscle contractions aka convulsions. Not all seizures include convulsions. Seizures are thought to begin through excitation of a group of susceptible neurons in the cerebral cortex or thalamus of the brain. The neurons begin to discharge electrical impulses, then recruit other surrounding large groups of neurons. Then they begin to discharge synchronous electrical impulses, which recruit even more large groups of surrounding neurons. Once a critical mass of neurons is involved, typical signs and symptoms become obvious in the patient. Brain cell damage associated with seizure was thought to occur from episodes of hypoxia, acidosis, hyperthermia, hypotension, and reduced blood flow to the brain.

TYPES OF SEIZURES

Primary (Unprovoked) SeizuresSeizures such as these inadults are usually due to a genetic or unknown cause. Common condition causing primary seizures is epilepsy. Epilepsy is episodes of unprovoked seizures. Categorized as generalized or partial seizures. Generalized seizures involve both hemispheres of the brain and the reticular activating system (loss of consciousness). Generalized seizure activity is usually characterized by convulsions. Partial seizures are typically related to abnormal activity in just one cerebral hemisphere. Partial seizures are either simple or complex. A patient who suffers a simple partial seizure remains awake and aware, whereas a patient who suffers a complex partial seizure normally remains awake but not aware.

TYPES OF SEIZURES

Secondary (Provoked) SeizuresAlso known as reactive or symptomatic seizures (not geneticly caused) occur as the result from fever, infection, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, drug intoxication, drug withdrawal, eclampsia in pregnancy, degenerative brain diseases, toxins, or imbalances in the electrolytes in the body. Secondary seizures are generalized in nature and less likely to produce partial type seizures. A patient suffering a seizure from some type of insult to the body suffers from full convulsive type seizure. This type of seizure is to identify and treat the underlying cause of the seizure activity.

SOURCESSEIZUREShttps://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seizure/symptoms-causes/syc-20365711#:~:text=Clonic%20seizures.,or%20to%20bite%20their%20tongue. TYPES OF SEIZURES https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/about/types-of-seizures.html#:~:text=Two%20main%20types%20include:,called%20%22grand%20mal%22%20seizures.