Seizure

A seizure is usually an epileptic seizure, an occasional seizure without epilepsy, a dissociative seizure, or a symptom of other medical conditions ( hypoglycemia or other severe metabolic disorder , severe oxygen deficiency ), poisoning, or cranial brain trauma . As a form of epileptic seizure in children associated with fever, febrile seizures, the most common type of seizure in children, can occur. Tonic and / or clonic convulsions often occur during seizures . “Atonic seizures” with a sudden loss of muscle tension are also possible.

A seizure caused by the brain ( cerebral ) can also be intentionally triggered for medical reasons, e.g. B. in the course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). However, the methods that have now been further developed no longer cause cramps, but only a brief neuronal overexcitation in the brain, which the patient cannot feel and which the doctor can only observe electroencephalographically (EEG) . To trigger such a "seizure", a short electrical pulse is passed through the patient's brain. The patient is completely anesthetized , receives a muscle relaxant and is closely medically monitored. Electroconvulsive therapy is considered to be the most effective method for treating severe, otherwise untreatable depression .

The term is also used in the literature for “psychogenic seizures” or to describe convulsions in the context of a tetanus disease. Occasionally, sudden muscle spasms are also called seizures.

Benzodiazepines , in particular , but also the barbiturate thiopental can be used for the medicinal treatment of seizures .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Jost Kaufmann, Michael Laschat, Frank Wappler: Preclinical care of child emergencies. In: Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine. Volume 61, 2020, pp. 26–37, here: p. 34.
2. ^ The ICU book: Practical Intensive Care Medicine by Paul L. Marino
3. ^ NDR: Electroconvulsive Therapy: Electricity Against Depression. Retrieved July 30, 2017 . 
4. ^ Neurotic disorders and psychosomatic medicine by Sven Olaf Hoffmann
5. ↑ wound Atlas: Compendium of complex wound management by Hans Lippert
6. ^ Roche Lexicon Medicine, 5th ed. 2003, Art. Seizure
7. ^ Jost Kaufmann, Michael Laschat, Frank Wappler: Preclinical care of child emergencies. 2020, p. 35.

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !