SYNCOPE AND RELATED PAROXYSMAL SPELLS

Course overview

PAROXYSMAL SPELLS ARE NON-EPILEPTIC EVENTS THAT MAY MIMIC EPILEPTIC SEIZURES BUT ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH RHYTHMIC DISCHARGES OF CORTICAL NEURONS TYPICAL OF SEIZURES. THEY CLINICALLY MANIFEST AS A TRANSIENT LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS, OFTEN OCCURRING SUDDENLY, WITH OR WITHOUT A PRODROME. PAROXYSMAL SPELLS CAN BE CAUSED BY PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS SUCH AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PSYCHIATRIC DISEASE OR PHYSIOLOGICAL EVENTS SUCH AS HYPOGLYCEMIA, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, AND SYNCOPE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION, TREATMENT, AND COMPLICATIONS OF PAROXYSMAL SPELLS AND ILLUSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT.