Funny turns in an elderly man
West Indian med. j
;
56(4): 376-379, Sept. 2007.
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-475995
ABSTRACT
A 74-year old man presented with recurrent attacks of altered sensorium, sometimes with abrupt falls, against the background of a long history of chronic obstructive airways disease and ischaemic heart disease. Investigations revealed evidence of significant cardiac conduction abnormalities and this led to the insertion of a permanent pacemaker. However, he continued to have recurrent 'syncopal'attacks. He was hospitalized to clarify the nature and aetiology of these attacks. Multiple stereotyped events were observed by different medical personnel, lasting up to two hours in duration. An attack was terminated by the administration of intravenous diazepam. Subsequent initiation of anti-epileptic drugs led to the complete abolition of these episodes. He has remained event-free since then ie two years. Because of multiple co-morbidities, the elderly present a greater diagnostic challenge in the evaluation of paroxysmal alterations in sensorium. It is essential that epilepsy, particularly with non-convulsive seizures, be included in the differential diagnosis whenever evaluating these patients.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Recurrence
/
Syncope
/
Diazepam
/
Epilepsy
/
Anticonvulsants
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Etiology study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
West Indian med. j
Journal subject:
Medicine
Year:
2007
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Jamaica
Institution/Affiliation country:
The University of the West Indies/JM
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