(^254) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
TREATMENT
If there is an underlying condition causing the disorder, removal of this condition
will often result in resolution of the disorder. The patient with a primary seizure
disorder will typically be managed with anticonvulsant medications. Some patients
will need multi-drug regimens to adequately control the seizure disorder. Patients
who do not respond to multiple antiepileptic drugs may be candidates for surgical
intervention.
- Administer antiepileptic medications:
- carbamazepine
- phenytoin
- phenobarbital
- clonazepam
- valproic acid
- lamotrigine
- gabapentin
- levetiracetam
- oxcarbazepine
- primidone
- tiagabine
- topiramate
- Seizure precautions per institution.
- Maintain IV access with saline lock if no intravenous fluids needed for hos-
pitalized patients. - Surgery to remove seizure focal area or sever the connection between the cere-
bral hemispheres (corpus callostomy) to limit the amount of seizure activity
for patients who do not have adequate control of seizures with medications. - Vagal nerve stimulation where there is implantation of an electrical device
that provides a predetermined pattern of vagal stimulation. This is used to
decrease the frequency of seizures.
NURSING DIAGNOSES
- Risk for ineffective breathing pattern or airway clearance