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Learning about Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a challenging task. Information from your healthcare provider and on the Web includes a lot of words and phrases that are unfamiliar to most people. Here we list some of the most frequently encountered and provide definitions that should help you in your research.
atonic seizuresAlso called “drop attacks,” these seizures cause brief loss of muscle tone. Abrupt falls from these seizures are common.
atypical absence seizuresSeizures marked by staring spells and lack of response. The person having the seizure may blink or have a slight twitching at the lips. There may be some responsiveness. Staring spells can be difficult to spot, especially in the developmentally disabled.
complex partial seizureA type of partial seizure in which consciousness is impaired. The patient may exhibit automatic behavior such as chewing, lip smacking, hand gestures, scratching, etc. Confusion and tiredness usually follow complex partial seizures.
corpus callosotomyIn this surgery, doctors cut the corpus callosum (which connects the two hemispheres of the brain). This helps prevent epileptic seizures in one part of the brain from affecting both sides.
electroencephalography (EEG)A safe, painless test for diagnosing epilepsy. The EEG records electrical activity in the brain. Small, metal disks are attached to the scalp and connected by wires to an EEG machine. The machine records brain activity as a series of lines, each related to a different part of the brain.
infantile spasmsAlso known as West syndrome, these seizures start in children between 3 and 12 months old and stop between the ages of 2 to 4. They begin with a sudden jerk and muscle stiffening. Often the arms are stretched out and the knees pull up. Seizures often occur in a series.
myocolonic seizuresSudden muscle jerks that last for only a second. Sometimes many will occur in a row. They can be quite strong and difficult to control. In people with LGS, these seizures often occur in the neck, upper arms, and shoulders. They can also be found in the face.
secondarily generalizedUsually beginning as partial seizures, these seizures spread throughout the brain (becoming generalized). They last only a few minutes.
simple partial seizuresA type of partial seizure in which consciousness and ability to interact with the external environment are not impaired. The patient may experience visual hallucinations, localized tingling, emotional symptoms, and tonic or clonic movements.
status epilepticusContinuous tonic-clonic seizures or recurring seizures so frequent that the person having them cannot recover. Seizures lasting for more than 5 minutes are at risk of status epilepticus and should be considered a medical emergency. Brain damage is likely if the seizures continue for more than 30 minutes.
tonic seizuresAlso called “drop attacks,” these seizures show muscle stiffening, dilation of the pupils, and altered respiratory patterns. Tonic seizures usually last less than 20 seconds. Tonic seizures in people with LGS may become harder to control over time.
tonic-clonic seizuresFormerly known as a grand mal seizure, this type of seizure is what most people think of when they think of epilepsy. A tonic-clonic seizure usually begins with muscles tightening or locking up, often causing a fall. Unconsciousness follows, along with jerking of the limbs. After seizures stop, the person may experience confusion and fall asleep. Episodes last 1 to 3 minutes.
vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)Passing electrical impulses along the vagus nerve to help control epileptic seizures. Short bursts of electrical energy are directed into the brain through the vagus nerve. The energy comes from a battery that is surgically implanted under the skin in the chest.
West syndromeSee infantile spasms.
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