45 y.o. woman with 45 y.o. woman with head injury and head injury and seizure seizure August 2005 August 2005 White 10, Team C – Massachusetts White 10, Team C – Massachusetts General Hospital, General Hospital, Boston – MA, USA Boston – MA, USA Lorenzo Azzalini Lorenzo Azzalini University of University of Padua Medical Padua Medical School, Italy School, Italy
34
Embed
45 y.o. woman with head injury and seizure August 2005 White 10, Team C – Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston – MA, USA Lorenzo Azzalini University.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
45 y.o. woman with 45 y.o. woman with head injury and head injury and
seizureseizure
August 2005August 2005
White 10, Team C – Massachusetts General White 10, Team C – Massachusetts General Hospital,Hospital,
Boston – MA, USABoston – MA, USA
Lorenzo AzzaliniLorenzo Azzalini University of Padua University of Padua Medical School, ItalyMedical School, Italy
History of present illnessHistory of present illness 45 y.o. woman45 y.o. woman History of depression, anxiety, HTN, head History of depression, anxiety, HTN, head
trauma and distant seizures in the pasttrauma and distant seizures in the past Presenting with lost of consciousness (LOC)Presenting with lost of consciousness (LOC) She was feeling alright in the last few days, She was feeling alright in the last few days,
except for the fact that she was urinating except for the fact that she was urinating more than her normal habits.more than her normal habits.
One day prior to admission, she drank a One day prior to admission, she drank a couple of cups of coffee. When she was in her couple of cups of coffee. When she was in her friend’s car, seated on the passenger seat, friend’s car, seated on the passenger seat, gradually began experiencing:gradually began experiencing: Visual changes, then loss of visionVisual changes, then loss of vision SOBSOB NauseaNausea Sensation of a strange smell.Sensation of a strange smell.
History of present illnessHistory of present illness Then – as her friend reported – she lost Then – as her friend reported – she lost
consciousness and had tonic-clonic consciousness and had tonic-clonic movements in her extremities and her movements in her extremities and her mouth was foamy.mouth was foamy.
No fecal or urinary incontinenceNo fecal or urinary incontinence She did bite her lips and had headache She did bite her lips and had headache
and neck pain after the LOC, which lasted and neck pain after the LOC, which lasted 3-5 minutes.3-5 minutes.
During the episode, the patient did not During the episode, the patient did not have any trauma.have any trauma.
History of present illnessHistory of present illness The patient’s friend drove her to the ED of The patient’s friend drove her to the ED of
MGH, where she stayed for 23 hours.MGH, where she stayed for 23 hours. She was tapped and given Vancomycin She was tapped and given Vancomycin
and Ceftriaxone for presumptive and Ceftriaxone for presumptive treatment, but later CSF analysis revealed treatment, but later CSF analysis revealed normal TP, Glucose and WBC.normal TP, Glucose and WBC.
The patient experienced fever up to 101.3, The patient experienced fever up to 101.3, chills, headache and diaphoresis. She was chills, headache and diaphoresis. She was given Tylenol. She also received her home given Tylenol. She also received her home medications (alprazolam, fluoxetine, medications (alprazolam, fluoxetine, triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide).triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide).
Cardiac enzymes and CXR were normal.Cardiac enzymes and CXR were normal.
Review of systemsReview of systems As per HPI.As per HPI. Pertinent ROS: upon arrival on the floor, Pertinent ROS: upon arrival on the floor,
lack of photophobia and headachelack of photophobia and headache No fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, chest No fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, chest
pains, palpitations, hematochezia, melena.pains, palpitations, hematochezia, melena. No alterations of mental status.No alterations of mental status. No slurring of speech or unilateral No slurring of speech or unilateral
weakness.weakness. No dysuria.No dysuria. No exposures/ingestions/recent travel.No exposures/ingestions/recent travel.
Past medical historyPast medical history
Depression and anxietyDepression and anxiety – Onset after her – Onset after her child’s death, four years ago.child’s death, four years ago.
Occasional headachesOccasional headaches – Rarely, after – Rarely, after sinusitis.sinusitis.
HypertensionHypertension Head traumaHead trauma – Twenty years ago she had a – Twenty years ago she had a
car accident, with consequent head trauma. car accident, with consequent head trauma. Since then, she had “less than ten seizures of Since then, she had “less than ten seizures of grand mal”. She used to take Tegretol grand mal”. She used to take Tegretol (Carbamazepine), but stopped four years ago, (Carbamazepine), but stopped four years ago, after her child’s death.after her child’s death.
Medications on Medications on admissionadmission
Xanax (ALPRAZOLAM) 1 mg PO Xanax (ALPRAZOLAM) 1 mg PO BID for anxietyBID for anxiety
Prozac (FLUOXETINE) 40 mg PO Prozac (FLUOXETINE) 40 mg PO BID for depressionBID for depression
TRIAMTERENE 37.5 mg + TRIAMTERENE 37.5 mg + HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE 25 mg HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE 25 mg PO QPM for HTNPO QPM for HTN
Social historySocial history – She had two children; one – She had two children; one died in car accident. Lives with her other died in car accident. Lives with her other child. Not married. Unemployed. Denies child. Not married. Unemployed. Denies alcohol and IV drugs abuse. Used to smoke alcohol and IV drugs abuse. Used to smoke 1 pack/day, but quit 20 years ago.1 pack/day, but quit 20 years ago.
Familial historyFamilial history – Father died from a – Father died from a “post-operative infection”, at 60; had “post-operative infection”, at 60; had history of CAD and DM. Mother died history of CAD and DM. Mother died “probably from heart attack”, at 65; had “probably from heart attack”, at 65; had history of seizures.history of seizures.
Physical examPhysical exam
Vital signs – T 98.6, HR 75, BP 119/80, RR Vital signs – T 98.6, HR 75, BP 119/80, RR 18, SatO18, SatO22 97% RA 97% RA
General – the patient appears in her stated General – the patient appears in her stated age and is in non-apparent distressage and is in non-apparent distress
Neck – supple, no thyromegaly, no carotid Neck – supple, no thyromegaly, no carotid bruits, JVP not appreciablebruits, JVP not appreciable
Nodes – no cervical or supraclavicular LADNodes – no cervical or supraclavicular LAD CV – RRR, S1 & S2 nl, no m/r/g, no S3, S4CV – RRR, S1 & S2 nl, no m/r/g, no S3, S4
Physical examPhysical exam
Chest – CTABChest – CTAB Abdomen - +BS, NT, ND. No HSM. No Abdomen - +BS, NT, ND. No HSM. No
peritoneal signs.peritoneal signs. Ext – no C/C/EExt – no C/C/E Skin – no rashesSkin – no rashes Neuro – A&Ox3; CN II-XII intact, Neuro – A&Ox3; CN II-XII intact,
Romberg –ve, normal reflexes, Romberg –ve, normal reflexes, strength 5/5 throughout, sensation strength 5/5 throughout, sensation intact throughoutintact throughout
•Head trauma recent or remote head trauma that is sufficient to produce LOC, prolonged amnesia, depressed skull fracture, dural tear, intracranial hemorrhage, or focal neurologic deficit is associated with a high risk of later development of epileptic seizures.
•Chest X-ray and ECG r/o aspiration pneumonia, non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, MI as complications of the epileptic seizure.
•EEG not necessary in an emergency procedure. Can be used to classify epileptic seizures.
On further testingOn further testing
Brain CT was negative for masses, Brain CT was negative for masses, hemorrhage or stroke.hemorrhage or stroke.
For a better evaluation for the For a better evaluation for the presence of a seizure focus, we presence of a seizure focus, we ordered a seizure-protocol brain ordered a seizure-protocol brain MRI.MRI.
We also ordered an EEG and a We also ordered an EEG and a neurology consult.neurology consult.
Brain Brain CTCT
Brain CTBrain CT
1. A nonspecific punctate hyperdensity is noted in the left middle frontal lobe. The differential diagnosis would include a tiny calcification versus a vessel or less likely a punctate area of hemorrhage.
2. Focal hypodensity is noted adjacent to the anterior horn of the left lateral ventricle which most likely represents microangiopathic disease in a patient of this age. No evidence of acute territorial infarct is identified.
3. No definite seizure focus is identified; however, a non-contrast CT does not adequately evaluate for the presence of a seizure focus. If this is of clinical concern, a seizure protocol MRI would be recommended.
BraiBrain n
MRIMRI
Brain MRIBrain MRI
1. Non-specific periventricular T2 1. Non-specific periventricular T2 signal abnormalities which may signal abnormalities which may represent chronic microangiopathic represent chronic microangiopathic disease, migraine headaches, disease, migraine headaches, demyelinating disease, Lyme disease, demyelinating disease, Lyme disease, or vasculitis.or vasculitis.
2. No seizure focus identified.2. No seizure focus identified.
EEGEEG
Normal EEG remarkable for the Normal EEG remarkable for the presence of generalized beta-range presence of generalized beta-range activities, likely related to activities, likely related to benzodiazepine intake. No epileptiform benzodiazepine intake. No epileptiform activity was present.activity was present.
““Increased beta activity is frequently Increased beta activity is frequently due to a sedative drug or any centrally due to a sedative drug or any centrally active compound, including most active compound, including most depressants, neuroleptics, depressants, neuroleptics, benzodiazepines, or even alcohol and benzodiazepines, or even alcohol and "illicit" substance.” (UpToDate)"illicit" substance.” (UpToDate)
Assessment and planAssessment and plan This is a 45 y.o. woman with a This is a 45 y.o. woman with a
history of depression, anxiety, history of depression, anxiety, distant seizures in the past, head distant seizures in the past, head trauma, presenting with seizure trauma, presenting with seizure (reported as tonic-clonic) in a (reported as tonic-clonic) in a context of UTI and caffeine intake. context of UTI and caffeine intake. However, also benzodiazepine However, also benzodiazepine withdrawal and history of head withdrawal and history of head trauma might be causes or co-trauma might be causes or co-factors.factors.
Assessment and planAssessment and plan
1)1) SeizureSeizurea.a. Brain CT: assess if there are any masses Brain CT: assess if there are any masses
or other lesions (stroke, hemorrhage). or other lesions (stroke, hemorrhage). Given Mucomyst (Acetylcysteine) 20% 600 Given Mucomyst (Acetylcysteine) 20% 600 mg PO BID x 4 doses for prophilaxis mg PO BID x 4 doses for prophilaxis against contrast-induced ARF.against contrast-induced ARF.
b.b. Brain MRI for further imagingBrain MRI for further imaging
c.c. Carbamazepine 200 mg PO TIDCarbamazepine 200 mg PO TID
d.d. EEGEEG
e.e. Neurology consultNeurology consult
Assessment and planAssessment and plan
2)2) UTIUTIa.a. Bactrim DS 1 tablet x 3 days PO BIDBactrim DS 1 tablet x 3 days PO BIDb.b. Urine culture and urinalysis to monitor Urine culture and urinalysis to monitor
treatmenttreatment
3)3) Depression and anxietyDepression and anxiety Continue Fluoxetine and AlprazolamContinue Fluoxetine and Alprazolam
5)5) DispositionsDispositionsa.a. To home when seizure work-up is To home when seizure work-up is
completedcompleted
b.b. Driving precautions (Massachusetts’ Driving precautions (Massachusetts’ federal law prohibits driving within 6 federal law prohibits driving within 6 months since last seizure)months since last seizure)
c.c. Neurology follow-up in 4-6 weeks.Neurology follow-up in 4-6 weeks.