A Grand Mal seizure is actually another name for a Tonic-Clonic Seizure. Grand Mal seizure are extremely powerful electrical storms of the brain. That cause a patient to descend into convulsions that they have no knowledge about their seizure. This seizure affect the entire body and work on two stages Tonic; which sees patient loose consciousness and fall, and clonic, where the begin to convulse. Usually patients with these seizure will begin to come out but have a period of altered mental status called a postictal state.
These seizures usually can have several complications if not treated to fast. Injuries due to the fall, and the inability to breath can lead to fatalities. Another thing EMS watch out for is if thirty minutes have passed and multiple seizures are noted with a return to regular mental status, it is called Status Epilepticus, which is a very serious life threat.
