Transcript Neurologic Disorders of the Brain

SEIZURE PROTOCOL
Ottawa Inner City Health
March 2009
Seizure
A seizure is a sudden release of energy by the brain.
It can cause a change in how a client acts.
Who is at Risk for a Seizure
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Alcohol and substance use and withdrawal
Brain dysfunction
 Head trauma
 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
 Brain abscess secondary to IV drug use or dental abscesses
 Epilepsy
Medications
 Pain medication
 Antibiotics
 Medication used to treat HIV and TB
Liver or kidney failure
Substance use
Sometimes the substances themselves can cause
seizures
 Cocaine
 Amphetamines
 Heroin
 Solvents
Classifications
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Two main types
 Partial
 Generalized
Partial Seizure
Seizure activity starts in one area of the brain.
Signs:
 person may appear confused, drugged, drunk,
 may wander
 lip smacking
 purposeless activity or repetitive motions such as
fidgeting with clothing
Generalized Seizure
Two types of concern with this population
 Tonic-clonic
 Absence
Tonic-Clonic Seizure
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affects entire body
 body falls, stiffens, and jerks
 loss of consciousness
 may cry out, bite tongue, turn pale, or appear to stop
breathing
loss of bladder and bowel control
fatigue and confusion afterwards
Absence Seizure
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Loss of consciousness but no confusion
afterward
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 staring
 eye
blinking
 eye twitching
 lip smacking
 jerking of hands
Management of Seizure
What should you do if your client has a seizure?
CCW Role
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Documenting pre-seizure and post-seizure events.
Maintain seizure precaution
Prevent complications due to:
 Injury
 Vomiting
STAY
CALM
Check the time.
Make sure client is safe
Clear area
Do not put anything in client’s mouth
or between the teeth.
Don’t worry if there is extra spit in
the client’s mouth.
Do not try to hold client still.
Roll the person on their side after the
seizure subsides.
Talk gently to the person.
When to notify the Nurse
Documentation
Important information
 Time and duration of seizure
 Type of seizure
 Interventions you did for client
 Behaviour before/after seizure including whether or
not sleeps after seizure
 Vital signs every 1-2 hours until fully awake
Is this a Seizure?
Understanding the difference between seizures and
non-seizure activity is important to care of client.
It is not a seizure if...
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They can talk to you
They are asleep and you see their eyes moving
under their eyelids
They have jittery movements that stop when you lay
a hand on them
Even though they are staring at you...they startle
with a loud noise.
What is not a Seizure
Fainting
Daydreaming
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Panic Attacks
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Rage attacks
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Migraine
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Movement Disorder
Questions?
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