Seizures.
What type of seizure is being illustrated by these Indian medical students?
With absence seizures you transiently lose then regain consciousness. For the very awake the video clip does say Petit Mal (Absence) on it.
Which of these options is NOT a recognised initial first line therapy to terminate a generalised tonic clonic seizure in a child?
Absoption of Diazepam IM is slow and erratic so this should be avoided.
Which of the following statements about "Todds paresis" is INCORRECT?
It lasts on average for 15hrs but does usually completely subside after 2 days.
Scary for the patient. The full You Tube link of the lady with Todd's paresis is below
According to the APLS algorithm what should be the next drug options after you are unsuccessful in stopping the seizure with 2 doses of benzodiazepines?
If the patient is already on Phenytoin or Levetiracetam (Keppra) use the other drug. Always check the BSL early in the care of a patient suffering a seizure.
Fosphenytoin is not available in Australia.
Paraldehyde is used very rarely pr or deep IM but never IV.
What treatment for her epilepsy did Rosemary Kennedy have? She was the younger sister of John F Kennedy (ex US president).
She was sedated then the leuctome (small ice pick) was inserted through the eye socket, entered into the frontal lobe and moved around. This was done on both sides. When Rosemary's response to questions went from coherent to confused they decided they had destroyed enough of the frontal lobe.
Not surprisingly it went poorly and she spent the rest of her life unable to walk or speak and was incontinent.
What does this video show Wally Lewis (ex rugby league player) having whilst he is reading the news in 2006?
Focal aware seizures are also called auras and often are the precursor to an imminent seizure (usually a tonic clonic seizure). The time between an aura and the seizure can be seconds to about an hour.
Which of the following is NOT associated with a pseudoseizure?
Pseudoseizures usually are pretty easy to tell but can be difficult to manage in the ED.
What best describes a "Jacksonian March"?
You remain conscious. May have strange sensations and jerking movements.
Which of the following is NOT recognised as a generalised seizure?
In a generalised seizure both hemispheres are involved and there is some loss of consciousness for a variable length of time.
What does this 14 Century picture demonstrate?
The relevant Bible references are Mark 9:17-27 Matthew 17:14-18 Luke 9:37-43. These all describe Jesus healing the boy with epilepsy.
Probably the most famous painting with a boy having a seizure is Raphael's Transfiguration (1517)---the boy is in the left foreground.