Term
| How would you define syncope? |
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Definition
| A loss of consciousness secondary to global diminished cerebral perfusion |
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Term
| What's a good way of remembering the mechanism of syncope? |
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Definition
PUMP (heart)
PASSENGER (blood)
PASSAGEWAY (vascular tone) |
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Term
| Describe some possible areas within the "pump" that could be affected and lead to syncope. |
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Definition
| pericardum, valves, myocardium, rhythm (too fast or too slow) |
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Term
| Describe how the passenger (blood) changes might lead to syncope. |
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Definition
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Term
| What issues with vascular tone could cause syncope? |
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Definition
impaired venous return (cough, micturition)
Neurocardiogenic syncope |
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Term
| Neurocardiogenic syncope is commonly misdiagnosed as ____. |
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Definition
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Term
| What are Sadler's Ps of neurocardiogenic syncope? |
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Definition
Prodrome
Posture
Pallor and perspiration
Precipitants
Period (time)
Post event |
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Term
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Definition
It lasts seconds to minutes
- tunnel vision
- hearing fade out
- nausea
- felt like going to pass out
- Rare --> psychic phenomena |
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Term
| In neurocardiogenic syncope, what is the Posture part of Sadler's Ps |
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Definition
| Neurocardiogenic syncope almost always begins with a patient upright or precipitated by a postural change to the upright position |
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Term
| What are some precipitants of neurocardiogenic syncope? |
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Definition
- acute pain
- prolonged standing
- hot environment
- sight of needles, blood
- relative fasting
- sick
- coughing
- prevention from getting supine |
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Term
| How long does loss of consciousness last in neurocardiogenic syncope? |
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Definition
| usually the person is awake in less than 1 minute and their cognition will be okay |
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Term
| What is convulsive syncope? |
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Definition
| the response of the normal brain to anoxia |
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Term
| What is the do-gooder phenomena? |
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Definition
| when a bystander who thinks they're being helpful sits the patient upright and the patient goes out again b/c their BP is still too low |
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Term
| T or F: all seizures involve loss of consciousness |
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Definition
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Term
| How do you define a "seizure" |
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Definition
| A sudden, excessive, abnormal discharge of electricity in the gray matter of the cerebral cortex |
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Term
| Clinical features of a seizure depend on where in the cortex the seizure ____ and ____. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
Spontaneous, recurring seizures
Epilepsy is a SYMPTOM of many different diseases
Caused by different pathologies affecting the cortex |
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Term
| What is the problem in a seizure? |
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Definition
1. Too much excitation
2. Not enough inhibition
3. Abnormal wiring causing abnormal synchronization |
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Term
| What is the difference between a generalized and a focal seizure? |
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Definition
Generalized = in both hemispheres from the get go
focal = begins in one relatively restricted area. |
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Term
| What are the two types of generalized seizures we need to know? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is generalized tonic-clonic seizure? |
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Definition
- onset in childhood or young
- may occur as only seizure type or with other types
- geeneralized spike waves on EEG |
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Term
| Describe characteristics of a generalized tonic-clonic. |
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Definition
- no warning
- LOC
- cry
- Tonic (symmetric arms out)
- clonic (jerks...maybe tongue biting)
- lasts 60-90 seconds
- has a postictal phase |
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Term
| What does the intricate EEG of a generalized tonic-clonic look like? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the etiology of generalized tonic clonic seizures? |
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Definition
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Term
| Describe absence seizures |
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Definition
early childhood but may persist into adulthood
- BRIEF = 10 to 15 seconds
- no warning
- arrest of behaviour
- frequent (dozens per day)
- NO postictal phase |
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Term
| An absence seizure is not to be confused with a ____ |
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Definition
| complex partial seizure (focal seizure with dyscognitive features) |
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Term
| What is one way they can induce an absence seizure? |
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Definition
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