Seizure Phases and Management of Seizures

Seizures are abrupt electrical disturbances in the brain that are uncontrolled and cause changes in behavior, movement, feeling, or a change in one’s level of consciousness. It is essential for medical workers to know the stages of a seizure and how to properly treat a seizure. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures, one of the most well-known seizure categories, normally develop in three stages: preictal, ictal, and postictal. The preictal phase, known as the aura, can also occur as a subtle premonition of the attack, like strange smells, visual disorders, and even moods: Seizure Phases and Management of Seizures.

This phase is important in the identification of the onsets and ensuring mechanisms of safety are put in place (Huff & Murr, 2023). The ictal phase is the active seizure period, as the patients might possibly lose consciousness and stiffen (tonic) with rhythmic jerking movements (clonic). Vera-González (2022) states that monitoring the length of time, physical engagement, and complications is crucial in the accurate representation and treatment. After this is the postictal phase, characterized by patients being confused, drowsy, or suffering from temporary neural defects resulting from weaknesses or inability to speak due to the recovery of the brain from this electrical imbalance.

Notably, acute measures and long-term approaches form the management of seizures. During the ictal phase, safety is important—caregivers should place the patient on their side, remove objects that may cause injury and ensure they do not place anything in the patient’s mouth. Airway patency maintenance and healthcare observation of the seizure are important aspects of immediate care. If the seizure persists for more than five minutes, emergency intervention is needed, as it is a status epilepticus, as noted by Ameli et al. (2021).

Seizure management in the long term will involve the administration of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) such as levetiracetam or phenytoin, teaching the patient how to recognize triggers and avoid them, and ensuring medication compliance. Nurses have an important role in patient education, seizure monitoring, and the adoption of treatment plans to enhance the quality of life and decrease the frequency of seizures.

References

Ameli, P. A., Ammar, A. A., Owusu, K. A., & Maciel, C. B. (2021). Evaluation and management of seizures and status epilepticus. Neurologic Clinics, 39(2), 513–544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ncl.2021.01.009

Huff, J. S., & Murr, N. (2023). Seizure. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430765/

Vera-González, A. (2022). Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the etiologies of seizures and epilepsy (S. J. Czuczwar, Ed.). PubMed; Exon Publications. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK580618/

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

Week 9 topic 5140 ******** Seizure Phases and Management of Seizures********

Instructions:
Choose a topic from the exam “Focus Sheet” sign up list

• Seizure Phases and Management of Seizures

Gather information on the topic and find a way to teach the topic to your peers.

Be creative. You can use images, diagrams, mnemonic devices, audio/video (your content only), algorithms, etc.

Be sure to cite any references for resources used.

After you’ve posted, find 2 peers and give respectful, constructive feedback on their topic. Feel free to ask any questions you may have about their topic.

Be sure to check your topic frequently to answer any questions from peers or the instructor to get full points.

Seizure Phases and Management of Seizures