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A seizure is a temporary change of behavior or movements resulting from a disturbance of brain neurons. Epilepsy is a chronic disease of disturbed electrical activity in the brain, resulting in recurrent seizures with or without convulsions. Epilepsy is a disorder with profound impact on lifestyle and patients are often dependent upon caregivers to assist with medications and transportation. All states impose limitations on driving for individuals who have recently had a seizure with impaired consciousness.
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The pathophysiology of a seizure is due to an unstable cell membrane in the gray matter of the brain. The cause of the unstable cell membrane has been linked to three causes: an abnormality in potassium conductance, an abnormality in voltage-sensitive ion channels, or a deficiency in membrane ATPases linked to ion transport. Excitatory neurotransmitters (glutamate, aspartate, acetylcholine, norepinephrine) enhance the propagation of seizures while inhibitory neurotransmitters (gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA], dopamine) decrease the propagation of seizure activity in the brain. The spread can be local (partial seizure) or throughout the entire brain (generalized seizure). The different types of epilepsies are due to the different pathophysiologic abnormalities.
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Epilepsy is classified by the seizure presentation (Table 53-1). The classification system is based on how the seizure begins; therefore, obtaining an adequate description from a third party is important. Most seizures can be categorized into two broad categories: generalized and focal. Generalized seizures begin in both hemispheres, whereas focal begin in only one brain hemisphere.
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