How To Document Seizure Activity Nursing
A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electric disturbance in the brain. Information technology tin cause changes in behavior, movements or feelings, and in levels of consciousness.
What is Seizure?
![](https://nurseslabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Seizures.jpg)
- Epilepsy is defined as a brain disorder characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures and by the neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition.
- One of the primeval descriptions of a secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizure was recorded over 3000 years agone in Mesopotamia; the seizure was attributed to the god of the moon.
- Hippocrates wrote the first book about epilepsy near 2500 years ago; he rejected ideas regarding the divine etiology of epilepsy and concluded that the crusade was excessive phlegm leading to abnormal encephalon consistency.
- A seizure is an abnormal, unregulated electrical discharge that occurs within the brain'southward cortical gray matter and transiently interrupts normal brain function; a seizure typically causes contradistinct awareness, abnormal sensations, focal involuntary movements, or convulsions (widespread violent involuntary wrinkle of voluntary muscles).
Classification
Seizures are classified as generalized or partial.
![Evaluating a child's brain activity and behavioral activity via EEG | CHOC Children's](https://nurseslabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Seizures-2.jpg)
- Generalized seizures. In generalized seizures, the abnormal electric belch diffusely involves the entire cortex of both hemispheres from the onset, and consciousness is unremarkably lost; generalized seizures result virtually oft from metabolic disorders and sometimes from genetic disorders.
- Partial seizures. In partial seizures, the excess neuronal discharge occurs in one cerebral cortex, and most often results from structural abnormalities; revised terminology for partial seizures has been proposed; in this system, partial seizures are called focal seizures.
Pathophysiology
Seizures are paroxysmal manifestations of the electric properties of the cerebral cortex.
- A seizure results when a sudden imbalance occurs between the excitatory and inhibitory forces within the network of cortical neurons in favor of a sudden-onset net excitation.
- The brain is involved in nearly every bodily part, including the higher cortical functions; if the affected cortical network is in the visual cortex, the clinical manifestations are visual phenomena.
- The pathophysiology of focal-onset seizures differs from the mechanisms underlying generalized-onset seizures.
- Overall, cellular excitability is increased, simply the mechanisms of synchronization appear to essentially differ between these ii types of seizure and are therefore discussed separately.
Statistics and Incidences
Incidences of seizure disorders in the Usa and worldwide occurs as follows:
- Hauser and collaborators demonstrated that the annual incidence of recurrent nonfebrile seizures in Olmsted County, Minnesota, was about 100 cases per 100,000 persons aged 0–1 twelvemonth, 40 per 100,000 persons aged 39–40 years, and 140 per 100,000 persons aged 79–80 years.
- Past the historic period of 75 years, the cumulative incidence of epilepsy is 3400 per 100,000 men (3.4%) and 2800 per 100,000 women (2.8%).
- Studies in several developed countries have shown incidences and prevalences of seizures like to those in the United States.
Causes
In a substantial number of cases, the cause of epilepsy remains unknown.
- Genetic syndromes. A number of genetic syndromes are known to causes seizures; nonetheless, a number of more than common syndromes should exist considered in the patient who presents with seizures and other findings.
- Chromosomal 22q deletion or duplication syndromes. Chromosomal 22q deletion syndrome is a spectrum of findings caused by a deletion on chromosome 22q11.2; seizures occur in 7% of patients with chromosomal 22q deletion syndrome.
- Metabolic disorders. Many different metabolic disorders can cause seizures, some as a outcome of a metabolic disturbance such as hypoglycemia or acidosis and some every bit a primary manifestation of the seizure disorder.
- Mitochondrial diseases. Mitochondrial disorders are underdiagnosed but often involve seizures and other neurologic manifestations; mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes (MELAS) syndrome is a mitochondrial disorder that is associated with seizures; often, seizures are the presenting manifestation.
- Seizure disorders caused by single -gene mutations. Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy is caused by mutations in the CHRNA4, CHRNB2, or CHRNA2 genes; it is characterized by nocturnal motor seizures.
- Idiopathic or unknown origin.
Phases
The phases of seizure activity are prodromal, aural, ictal, and postictal.
- The prodromal phaseinvolves mood or behavior changes that may precede a seizure past hours or days.
- The aura is a premonition of impending seizure activeness and may be visual, auditory, or gustatory.
- The ictal stage is characterized by seizure action, usually musculoskeletal.
- The postictal stage is a menstruation of confusion/somnolence/irritability that occurs afterwards the seizure.
Clinical Manifestations
The clinical diagnosis of seizures is based on the history obtained from the patient and, most importantly, the observers.
- Aureola. An aura (unusual sensations) precedes seizures in most xx% of people who have a seizure disorder.
- Short duration. Well-nigh all seizures are relatively brief, lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes; well-nigh seizures last 1 to 2 minutes.
- Postictal country. When a seizure stops, people may take a headache, sore muscles, unusual sensations, confusion, and profound fatigue; these after-effects are called the postictal land.
- Todd paralysis. In some people, 1 side of the body is weak, and the weakness lasts longer than the seizure (a disorder called Todd paralysis).
- Visual hallucinations. Visual hallucinations (seeing unformed images) occur if the occipital lobe is affected.
- Convulsions. A convulsion (jerking and spasms of muscles throughout the body) occur if large areas on both sides of the encephalon are afflicted.
Assessment and Diagnostic Findings
Epileptic seizures have many causes, and some epileptic syndromes take specific histopathologic abnormalities.
![](https://nurseslabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Seizures-5.png)
- Prolactin study. The American University of Neurology (AAN) recommends serum prolactin assays, measured in the appropriate clinical setting at 10-20 minutes after a suspected event every bit a useful adjunct for differentiating generalized tonic-clonic or complex fractional seizure from psychogenic nonepileptic seizure in adults and older children.
- Serum studies of anticonvulsant agents. Judicious testing of serum levels of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may help to improve the treat patients with seizures and epilepsy; however, note that many new AEDs do not have readily obtainable or established levels.
- Neuroimaging studies. A neuroimaging study, such as brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or head computed tomography (CT) scanning, may show structural abnormalities that could exist the cause of a seizure.
- Electroencephalography. Interictal epileptiform discharges or focal abnormalities on electroencephalography (EEG) strengthen the diagnosis of epileptic seizures and provide some help in determining the prognosis.
- Video- EEG. Video-EEG monitoring is the benchmark standard for classifying the type of seizure or syndrome or for diagnosing pseudoseizures; that is, for establishing a definitive diagnosis of spells with impairment of consciousness.
- Lumbar puncture. Detects aberrant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, signs of infections or bleeding (i.e., subarachnoid, subdural hemorrhage) every bit a cause of seizure activity (rarely done).
Medical Management
The goal of treatment in patients with epileptic seizures is to reach a seizure-gratuitous status without agin furnishings.
![](https://nurseslabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Seizures-4.jpg)
- Monotherapy.Monotherapy is desirable because it decreases the likelihood of agin furnishings and avoids drug interactions; also, monotherapy may be less expensive than polytherapy, as many of the older anticonvulsant agents take hepatic enzyme-inducing properties that decrease the serum level of the concomitant drug, thereby increasing the required dose of the concomitant drug.
- Anticonvulsant therapy. The mainstay of seizure treatment is anticonvulsant medication; the drug of choice depends on an authentic diagnosis of the epileptic syndrome, as a response to specific anticonvulsants varies amidst different syndromes.
- Discontinuing anticonvulsant agents. After a person has been seizure free for typically 2-v years, the medico may consider discontinuing that patient's medication; many patients outgrow many epileptic syndromes in childhood and do not need to take anticonvulsants.
- Ketogenic diet. The ketogenic diet, which relies heavily on the use of fat, such equally hydrogenated vegetable oil shortening (e.g., Crisco), has a office in the treatment of children with severe epilepsy; although this diet is unquestionably effective in some refractory cases of seizure, a ketogenic nutrition is difficult to maintain; less than ten% of patients proceed the diet after a twelvemonth.
- Atkins diet. Preliminary data have been published about improvement of seizure frequency following a modified Atkins (low-saccharide) diet that mimics the ketogenic nutrition merely does non restrict protein, calories, and fluids; in modest studies of children with intractable epilepsy, seizure reductions of more than 50% have been seen within iii months in some children placed on this diet, especially with carbohydrate limits of 10 k per day.
- Vagal nervus stimulation. VNS is a palliative technique that involves surgical implantation of a stimulating device; VNS is FDA canonical to treat medically refractory focal-onset epilepsy in patients older than 12 years; some studies demonstrate its efficacy in focal-onset seizures and a small-scale number of patients with primary generalized epilepsy.
- Implantable neurostimulator. The NeuroPace RNS System, a device that is implanted into the cranium, senses, and records electrocorticographic patterns and delivers short trains of current pulses to interrupt ictal discharges in the encephalon.
- Lobectomy. In a randomized, controlled trial of surgery in lxxx patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, 58% of patients in the group randomized to inductive temporal lobe resective surgery were free from seizures impairing awareness at 1 year, as compared with 8% in the grouping that received anticonvulsant treatment.
- Lesionectomy. In a study presented at the 66th Annual Coming together of the American Epilepsy Society, investigators suggested that, in select pediatric patients, smaller lesionectomy resections in the surgical handling of seizures may be as effective equally larger resections, and they may spare children the functional and developmental deficits associated with the larger resections.
- Activeness modification and restrictions. The major problem for patients with seizures is the unpredictability of the next seizure; clinicians should hash out the following types of seizure precautions with patients who accept epileptic seizures or other spells of sudden-onset seizures: driving, ascending heights, working with fire or cooking, using ability tools and other dangerous equipment, taking unsupervised baths, and swimming.
- Long-term monitoring. In 2018, the FDA cleared for marketing the first smartwatch for seizure tracking and epilepsy management; the Embrace smart spotter identifies convulsive seizures and sends an alert via text and phone message to caregivers; the picket too records sleep, balance, and physical action data; the device was tested in a study of 135 epileptic patients and plant the spotter's algorithm detected 100% of patient seizures.
Pharmacologic Management
The number of anticonvulsants has increased, offering many more medication choices for physicians and their patients.
- Anticonvulsants, other. These agents foreclose seizure recurrence and terminate clinical and electric seizure activity; anticonvulsants are usually reserved for patients who are at increased risk for recurrent seizures.
- Anticonvulsants, barbiturates.Like benzodiazepines, barbiturates bind to the gamma-aminobutyric acrid (GABA) receptor, enhancing the actions of GABA by extending GABA-mediated chloride channel openings and assuasive neuronal hyperpolarization.
- Anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines. These agents demark to the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, thereby enhancing the actions of GABA.
- Anticonvulsants, succinimide. These agents reduce current in T-type calcium channels.
- Anticonvulsants, neuronal potassium aqueduct opener. Stabilizes neuronal KCNQ (Kv7) channels in the open position, increasing the stabilizing membrane current and preventing bursts of activeness potentials during the sustained depolarizations associated with seizures.
- Anticonvulsants, hydantoins. These agents stabilize sodium channels and forestall the return of the channels to the active country.
Nursing Direction
Nursing care for a child with seizure disorder include the following:
Nursing Assessment
Nursing cess includes:
- History. The diagnosis of epileptic seizures is made past analyzing the patient'southward detailed clinical history and by performing ancillary tests for confirmation; someone who has observed the patient'south repeated events is usually the best person to provide an accurate history; however, the patient likewise provides invaluable details almost auras, preservation of consciousness, and postictal states.
- Physical exam.A physical test helps in the diagnosis of specific epileptic syndromes that cause aberrant findings, such as dermatologic abnormalities (e.g., neurocutaneous syndromes such as Sturge-Weber, tuberous sclerosis, and others); too, patients who for years accept had intractable generalized tonic-clonic seizures are likely to have suffered injuries requiring stitches.
Nursing Diagnosis
Based on the cess information, the major nursing diagnoses are:
- Chance for trauma or suffocation related to loss of large or minor muscle coordination.
- Gamble for ineffective airway clearance related to neuromuscular impairment.
- Situational low self-esteem related to stigma associated with the condition.
- Deficient knowledge related to information misinterpretation.
- Risk for injury related to weakness, balancing difficulties, cognitive limitations or altered consciousness.
Nursing Care Planning and Goals
The major nursing goals for a child with seizure disorder are:
- The patient or caregiver will verbalize understanding of factors that contribute to the possibility of trauma and or suffocation and accept steps to right the situation.
- The patient or caregiver volition identify actions or measures to take when seizure activity occurs.
- The patient or caregiver will identify and correct potential risk factors in the environment.
- The patient or caregiver will demonstrate behaviors, lifestyle changes to reduce risk factors and protect self from injury.
- The patient or caregiver volition modify the surround as indicated to enhance safety.
- The patient or caregiver will maintain handling regimen to control or eliminate seizure activity
- The patient or caregiver volition recognize the need for assistance to forestall accidents or injuries.
- The patient will maintain effective respiratory pattern with airway patent or aspiration prevented.
- The patient or caregiver will demonstrate behaviors to restore positive self-esteem.
- The patient or caregiver will participate in treatment regimen or activities to correct factors that precipitated a crunch.
- The patient or caregiver will verbalize agreement of the disorder and diverse stimuli that may increase potentiate seizure activity.
Nursing Interventions
Nursing interventions for a kid with seizure disorder include the following:
- Prevent trauma/injury. Teach SO to determine and familiarize alarm signs and how to care for patient during and afterwards seizure attack; avoid using thermometers that tin crusade breakage; use tympanic thermometer when necessary to take temperature; uphold strict bedrest if prodromal signs or aura experienced; plough head to side and suction airway as indicated; support head, place on soft expanse, or assist to floor if out of bed; practice not endeavor to restrain; monitor and document AED drug levels, corresponding side effects, and frequency of seizure activity.
- Promote airway clearance. Maintain in lying position, flat surface; turn head to side during seizure activeness; loosen clothing from cervix or chest and abdominal areas; suction every bit needed; supervise supplemental oxygen or bag ventilation equally needed postictally.
- Ameliorate cocky-esteem. Determine individual situation related to low self-esteem in the present circumstances; refrain from over protecting the patient; encourage activities, providing supervision and monitoring when indicated; know the attitudes or capabilities of So; assistance an individual realize that his or her feelings are normal; still, guilt and arraign are not helpful.
- Enforce education about the disease. Review pathology and prognosis of condition and lifelong demand for treatments every bit indicated; discuss patient's particular trigger factors (flashing lights, hyperventilation, loud noises,video games, TV viewing); know and instill the importance of proficient oral hygiene and regular dental care; review medication regimen, necessity of taking drugs as ordered, and not discontinuing therapy without doctor supervision; include directions for missed dose.
Evaluation
Goals are met as evidenced by:
- The patient or caregiver verbalized understanding of factors that contribute to the possibility of trauma and or suffocation and have steps to right the situation.
- The patient or caregiver identified deportment or measures to take when seizure activity occurs.
- The patient or caregiver identified and corrected potential take chances factors in the environment.
- The patient or caregiver demonstrated behaviors, lifestyle changes to reduce run a risk factors and protect self from injury.
- The patient or caregiver modified environs equally indicated to enhance safety.
- The patient or caregiver maintained treatment regimen to control or eliminate seizure action
- The patient or caregiver recognized the demand for help to prevent accidents or injuries.
- The patient maintained constructive respiratory blueprint with airway patent or aspiration prevented.
- The patient or caregiver demonstrated behaviors to restore positive self-esteem.
- The patient or caregiver participated in treatment regimen or activities to right factors that precipitated a crunch.
- The patient or caregiver verbalized understanding of the disorder and various stimuli that may increase potentiate seizure action.
Documentation Guidelines
Documentation in a child with seizure disorder include:
- Individual findings, including factors affecting, interactions, nature of social exchanges, specifics of private behavior.
- Cultural and religious beliefs, and expectations.
- Plan of care.
- Education programme.
- Responses to interventions, teaching, and actions performed.
- Attainment or progress toward the desired consequence.
Practice Quiz: Seizure Disorder
Hither'southward a 5-particular quiz for seizure disorder report guide. Please visit our nursing test banking company folio for more than NCLEX practise questions.
one. In diagnosing seizure disorder, which of the following is the nearly benign?
A. Brain scan
B. Skull radiographs
C. Lumbar puncture
D. Electroencephalogram
1. Answer: D. Electroencephalogram
- Choice D: An electroencephalogram recognizes abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The design of multiple spikes can assist in the diagnosis of particular seizure disorders.
- Choice A: Brain scans ostend space-occupying lesions.
- Option B: Skull radiographs can distinguish fractures and structural abnormalities.
- Option C: Lumbar puncture confirms bug related to cerebrospinal fluid infection or trauma.
2. Later on explaining to the parents about their child's unique psychological needs related to a seizure disorder and possible stressors, which of the following interests uttered past them would signal further teaching?
A. Dependency
B. Cognitive delays
C. Poor self-prototype
D. Feeling dissimilar from peers
2. Answer: B. Cognitive delays
- Pick B: Children with seizure disorders do non necessarily have cognitive delays.
- Options A, C, and D: Feelings of being different from peers, poor self-image, and dependency can put boosted stress on a child trying to understand and manage chronic illness.
iii. Tatiana has a seizure disorder; which of the following would be the lowest priority when caring for her?
A. Assessing for signs and symptoms of increased intracranial force per unit area (ICP).
B. Educating the family unit virtually anticonvulsant therapy.
C. Observing and taking downwardly data on all seizures.
D. Assuring safety and protection from injury.
3. Respond: A. Assessing for signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP).
- Selection A: Signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) are not associated with seizure activity and therefore would be the lowest priority.
- Option B: Improper administration of and incomplete compliance with anticonvulsant therapy tin atomic number 82 to status epilepticus; thus education is a priority.
- Choice C: Conscientious observation and documentation of seizures provide valuable information to assist prevention and handling.
- Option D: Rubber is always a priority in the care of a child with a seizure disorder because seizures may occur at any given time.
4. Angie is an adolescent who has a seizure disorder; which of the post-obit would not exist a focus of a teaching program?
A. Peer pressure
B. Drug and alcohol abuse
C. Power to obtain a driver's license
D. Increased risk of infections
4. Answer: D. Increased take a chance of infections
- Pick D: Adolescents with seizure disorders are at no greater run a risk for infections than other adolescents.
- Option A: Peer pressure may put the child at take chances for increased risk-taking behaviors that may intensify seizure action.
- Choice B: Drug and alcohol utilise may conflict with or cause adverse reactions from anticonvulsants.
- Selection C: The ability to get a driver's license may be determined by the adolescent's seizure history.
5. A nurse is giving belch instructions to a client who volition be taking phenobarbital (Luminal). The nurse would educate the client in which of the following that straight correlates with the safety of the client?
A. Take the medication with meals just.
B. Decrease the dosage in one case with symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness.
C. Accept the medication at the same fourth dimension each solar day.
D. Avoid using sleep aids while taking the medication.
five. Answer: D. Avoid using slumber aids while taking the medication.
- Option D: Phenobarbital (Luminal) is an anticonvulsant and hypnotic drug; the customer should avert the use of medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers).
- Option A: The medication is taken without regard to meals.
- Option B: Decreasing the dosage is not done without the approval of the doc.
- Option C: Taking the medication at the same fourth dimension daily improves compliance and maintains more stable blood levels of the medication.
How To Document Seizure Activity Nursing,
Source: https://nurseslabs.com/seizure-disorders/
Posted by: kramerhaverfice.blogspot.com
0 Response to "How To Document Seizure Activity Nursing"
Post a Comment