How do you treat eclamptic seizures?

III. Management: Seizure

1. Magnesium Sulfate (if not already started) Loading dose: 4-6 grams IV over 15-20 minutes.
2. Anticonvulsant not recommended routinely in Eclampsia. Magnesium Sulfate best option for Seizure control.
3. Consider anticonvulsant if Seizure prolonged (caution adverse fetal effects)

What is an eclamptic seizure?

Eclampsia is a severe complication of preeclampsia. It’s a rare but serious condition where high blood pressure results in seizures during pregnancy. Seizures are periods of disturbed brain activity that can cause episodes of staring, decreased alertness, and convulsions (violent shaking).

How can eclamptic seizures be prevented?

The maternal mortality rate is 8-36% in these cases. A loading dose of magnesium sulfate followed by maintenance doses for 12-24 hours may be effective in preventing recurrent seizures.

What is the drug of choice for eclamptic seizure?

Because the treatment of choice for eclamptic seizures is magnesium sulfate, it seems reasonable to also consider using it for prevention. 2 However, a number of other medications are available for seizure prevention, including phenytoin (Dilantin) and nimodipine (Nimotop).

What does an eclamptic seizure look like?

An entire seizure lasts 1 to 2 minutes or longer. After the seizure, the woman will be unresponsive at first but will gradually wake up within 10 to 15 minutes. She may be sleepy, confused, or dazed. She may also feel tired, weak, or moody and may have a headache and muscle aches for the next 24 hours.

What are the stages of eclamptic fits?

In addition to these categorizations, there are four distinct phases of seizures: prodromal, early ictal (the “aura”), ictal, and post-ictal.

What causes eclamptic seizure?

Little is known about what triggers the convulsions in this syndrome. The prevailing view is that convulsions are caused by cerebral vasospasm and cerebral edema. However, many important clinical findings argue against cerebral edema or hypertensive encephalopathy as the sole causes of convulsions in eclampsia.

How long does an eclamptic seizure last?

An entire seizure lasts 1 to 2 minutes or longer. After the seizure, the woman will be unresponsive at first but will gradually wake up within 10 to 15 minutes.

What are seizure precautions?

Preventive Measures at Home, School, or Work. Replacing glass with plastic will prevent cuts during a seizure as many injuries are caused by glass doors, cups, showers, etc. Any activity related to water should be considered a high risk, so people with epilepsy should avoid swimming or taking baths by themselves.

What causes an eclamptic seizure?

What are the signs of impending eclampsia?

The warning signs of imminent eclampsia are 1) systolic blood pressure of 160 mmHg or more on two occasions six hours apart when the patient is on bed rest; 2) proteinuria of 5 g or more in 24 hours or 3 + or more by semiquantitative assay; 3) oliguria or anuria; 4) cerebral or visual disturbances; 5) pulmonary edema …

Which symptoms are most common before eclampsia seizure?

A study by Cooray et al found that the most common symptoms that immediately precede eclamptic seizures are neurologic symptoms (ie, headache, with or without visual disturbance), regardless of degree of hypertension. This suggests that closely monitoring patients with these symptoms may provide an early warning for eclampsia. [ 12]

Is eclampsia always fatal?

Untreated pre-eclampsia is dangerous because it can harm the mother’s organs and lead to seizures. If these seizures, called eclampsia, aren’t treated right away, they are usually fatal for a woman and her baby. Pre-eclampsia or eclampsia can also lead to low birth weight in the baby, premature delivery,…

Which type of seizure occurs in eclampsia?

A woman with eclampsia has a type of seizure called a grand mal seizure, which begins with a sudden loss of consciousness. During the first 15 to 30 seconds of a seizure, the entire body stiffens as the muscles contract. The back and neck arch. The woman may cry out as the vocal cords contract or may turn blue if she is having difficulty breathing.