Page 2047 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

▪ Administer prophylactic antiseizure medications.

▪ Provide deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis as prescribed.

Box 58-13

Types of Seizures

Generalized Seizures
Tonic-Clonic

▪ Tonic-clonic seizures may begin with an aura.
▪ The tonic phase involves the stiffening or rigidity of the muscles of the arms and
legs and usually lasts 10 to 20 seconds, followed by loss of consciousness.
▪ The clonic phase consists of hyperventilation and jerking of the extremities and
usually lasts about 30 seconds.
▪ Full recovery from the seizure may take several hours.

Absence

▪ A brief seizure that lasts seconds, and the individual may or may not lose
consciousness.
▪ No loss or change in muscle tone occurs.
▪ Seizures may occur several times during a day.
▪ The victim appears to be daydreaming.
▪ This type of seizure is more common in children.

Myoclonic

▪ Myoclonic seizures present as a brief generalized jerking or stiffening of
extremities.
▪ The victim may fall from the seizure.

Atonic or Akinetic (Drop Attacks)

▪ An atonic seizure is a sudden momentary loss of muscle tone.
▪ The victim may fall as a result of the seizure.

Partial Seizures
Simple Partial

▪ The simple partial seizure produces sensory symptoms accompanied by motor
symptoms that are localized or confined to a specific area.
▪ The client remains conscious and may report an aura.

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