Funny turns in an elderly man
West Indian med. j
;
56(4): 376-379, Sept. 2007.
Artigo
em Inglês
| 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.
Texto completo:
DisponíveL
Índice:
LILACS (Américas)
Assunto principal:
Recidiva
/
Síncope
/
Diazepam
/
Epilepsia
/
Anticonvulsivantes
Tipo de estudo:
Estudo diagnóstico
/
Estudo de etiologia
/
Fatores de risco
Limite:
Idoso
/
Humanos
/
Masculino
Idioma:
Inglês
Revista:
West Indian med. j
Assunto da revista:
Medicina
Ano de publicação:
2007
Tipo de documento:
Artigo
País de afiliação:
Jamaica
Instituição/País de afiliação:
The University of the West Indies/JM
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