EMT Chapter 19 Key Terms
status epilepticus
a continuous seizure lasting longer than 30 minutes or two or more sequential seizures without a full recovery of consciousness between seizures
simple partial seizure
a partial seizure, starting from a focus and remaining localized, that does not produce loss of awareness; some categories are motor seizures, sensory seizures, autonomic seizure, psychic seizure
complex partial seizure
a partial seizure, starting from a focus and remaining localized, that produces loss of awareness
absence seizure
a seizure characterized by a sudden cessation of conscious activity that involves a lack of vocalization and a blank stare beginning and ending abruptly and lasting only 5 to 15 seconds; most common in children
seizure
a sudden and temporary alteration in the mental status caused by massive, continuing electrical discharge in a group of nerve cells in the brain; after 5 min the seizure is considered prolonged and the patient should be transported
generalized tonic-clonic seizure
a type of seizure that produces unresponsiveness and a characteristic jerky, convulsive motor activity involving the entire body; formerly know as grand mal seizure; five stages: aura, loss of consciousness, tonic phase (muscle rigidity), clonic phase (convulsion), postictal state
aura
an unusual sensory sensation that can precede a seizure episode by hours or only a few seconds
epilepsy
chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures; most common epileptic seizure type is the tonic-clonic seizure, often called the grand mal seizure
syncope
fainting or sudden loss of consciousness caused by lack of blood supply to the cerebrum; usually begins in a standing postion; skin is pale and moist; can be a sign of serious illness or injury
cognition
having perception, attention, emotion, memory, and executive function
generalized seizures
involve both hemispheres of the brain and the reticular activating system; usually characterized by convulsions; type of primary seizure (unprovoked)
myoclonic seizure
involves sporadic brief jerks of muscle groups on both sides of the body; common in children; described as electrical shocks
atonic seizure
results in the total loss of muscle tone resulting in loss of muscle strength ; generalized seizure; person remains conscious; commonly results in head injury
febrile seizure
seizure associated with a high fever without any signs of other causes; most common in young children; secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures
secondarily generalized seizures
simple or complex partial seizures evolving to a generalized seizure; partial seizure activity spreads to both sides of the brain and involves the entire body; lasts for only 1 to 3 minutes
postictal state
the recovery period that follows the clonic phase of a generalized seizure; in a postictal state the patient commonly appears weak, exhausted, confused, and disoriented and progressively improves.
tonic seizure
typically characterized by a sudden onset of greatly increased muscle tone in the body, arms, or legs causing sudden muscular rigidity; most often occur during sleep; generalized seizure; usually only lasts for 20-30 sec
partial seizures
typically related to abnormal activity in one cerebral hemisphere; either simple or complex; during a simple the patient remains awake and aware; during a complex the patient normally remains awake but not aware
convulsion
unresponsiveness accompanied by a generalized jerky muscle movement affecting the entire body; type of seizure
seizure treatment
1) prevent injury to the patient - do not restrain 2) position the patient - recovery postition 3) maintain the patent airway - nasal airway is best 4) suction 5) assist ventilation if necessary - for prolonged seizures 6) maintain adequate oxygenation - provide high concentration of oxygen using nonrebreather mask 7) transport - if it is abornormal, prolonged, more than one occured, or if it is the first sometimes benzodiazepine can be used in the prehospital setting to stop seizure activity
