Seizures
Pathophysiology Course
Sudden, uncontrolled electrical discharges
in the brain. Epilepsy is lifelong episodes
of seizures.
Anything that can cause brain swelling or hypoxia
• Infection: meningitis
• Trauma: TBI, Concussion
• Brain mass: BRAIN tumors
• Increased ICP
• Fever in infants = “febrile seizure”
•Withdrawal from drugs & alcohol
Generalized
Tonic - Tight & Tense - Tonic
Clonic - convulsions,
contraction - clonic clicking
Tonic Clonic - tight & convulsions
Atonic
Myoclonic
Absent - “spaced out”
Partial “Focal”
Simple: Fully conscious
Complex: impaired or Loss of
Consciousness
Lip smacking
Biting
Picking
Causes
Types of Seizures
Stages or Phases of Seizure
Pathophysiology
ePILEpsi - like a PILE of seizures that
come & go over a lifetime
MEMORY TRICK
Key words
Absence seizures can look
like daydreaming or staring
off into space
Top Missed Exam Question
Client with history of epilepsy, or a client
with a VP shunt … status epilepticus.
First intervention?
1. Administer diazepam rectal or IV
2. CT scan
3. Head to toe assessment
4. Neuro assessment
• Prodromal phase Warning signs before a seizure leading to Aura Phase
• Aura phase Visual, auditory clue that happens prior to a major seizure
• Ictal phase = Seizure Phase THINK ignition phase - the period of the active seizure
• Postictal Phase Hangover phase after the seizure - think POST-ignition phase
• Confused, disoriented, major headache, & typically feels tired or sleepy
EXAM TIP
S S S S S
Stress Stimulants
Sugar
& Sodium LOW
Sleep deprived
- fatigue
Strobe lights
flashing lights
NCLEX TIP
Na+
Sugar
Triggers
• Sugar:
below 70 (Hypoglycemia)
think hypogly
brain will die
• Sodium:
below 135 (Hyponatremia)
MEMORY TRICK
