PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF SEIZURE: NERVOUS SYSTEM
ETIOLOGY
PREDISPOSING
FACTORS
- an electrical disturbance in the nerve cells in one section of the brain, causing (hypoxemia, them to emit abnormal, recurring, uncontrolled, injury, electrical discharges infections,
- idiopathic (genetic, developmental defects) - acquired vascular insufficiency, fever (childhood), (childhood), head hypertension, CNS metabolic and toxic
conditions, brain tumor, drug and alcohol withdrawal, and allergies)
CELLULAR/ METABOLIC CHANGES PHYSIOLOGIC MANIFESTATION
- whe when the integrity of the neuronal cell sensations, pallor, memb membra rane ne is alte altere red, d, the the cell cell begi begins ns firi firing ng flushing, goose flesh with increased frequency and amplitude. pupillary dilation, When the intensit intensity y discharg discharges es reaches reaches the
GROSS ANATOMICAL PHYSICAL CHANGES
- involuntary movements may spread cent centra rall lly y and and invo involv lve e the the enti entire re limb limb,, incl includ udin ing g one side of the face and lower extremities. the client client also may exhibit exhibit changes changes in posture posture
- epigastric swea sweati ting ng,, (piloerection), (piloerection), tachycar tachycardia, dia,
adjacent neurons, ultimately resulting to seizure. Inhibitory neurons in epilepsy have slow neuronal firing in the cortex, anterior thalamus, and basal ganglia. Once the inhibitory processes develop or the epileptogenic neurons are exhausted, the seizure stops then later events depress the CNS activity and impair consciousness
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
LABORATORY FINDINGS
TONIC PHASE:
- fall, loss of consciousness, yell or “tonic cry”, focal abnormalities, abnormalities, extension of arms, legs, and/or face, fingers and jaw clenched. AUTONOMIC SYMPTOMS location of the include increase in blood pressure, heart rate and bladder pressure, flushing, sweating, so that the increased salivation and bronchial secretion, be removed and apnea CLONIC PHASE:
- muscles relax completely, then muscle tone returns which causes rhythmic jerking of head and body. POST-ICTAL PHASE:
- biting of the tongue, cheek or lip, and urinary incontinence are common
- MRI may detect lesions in the brain, and cerebral degenerative changes - EEG may allow diagnosis of the type and occurring seizure. - SPECT may identify the epileptogenic zone area in the brain giving rise to seizures can surgically.
SEIZURE
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COMPLICATIONS Hypoxic brain damage and mental retardation may f ollow repeated seizures Depressi Depression on and anxiet anxiety y may develop. develop. Long-ter Long-term m social social isolation isolation may may also occur occur