Which patient is NOT at risk for seizures?

• A. A 32-year-old with blood glucose of 20 mg/dL.
• B. A 63-year-old whose CT scan shows an ischemic stroke.
• C. A 72-year-old who is post op day 5 from open heart surgery.
• D. A 58-year-old experiencing ETOH withdrawal.

Answer: (C)

Seizures happen when neurons become unusually irritable due to metabolic disturbance, brain injury, or withdrawal states. Severe hypoglycemia deprives the brain of glucose and can trigger seizures. An ischemic stroke injures brain tissue and creates an area of irritability that can precipitate seizures. Alcohol withdrawal removes inhibitory control on the brain, leading to withdrawal seizures within a short time frame after stopping drinking. Being five days after open-heart surgery isn’t a typical seizure trigger unless there are complications such as hypoxia, electrolyte disturbances, or embolic events; without those issues, this scenario is not a common seizure risk. Therefore, the patient five days post open-heart surgery is not at typical risk for seizures.