Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
postictal
Pronunciation: post-IK-tal
Occurring after a seizure, describing the period of altered consciousness or neurological dysfunction following the ictal event.
Full Definition
The postictal period begins immediately after seizure termination and can last minutes to hours, characterized by confusion, fatigue, headache, or focal neurological deficits. Postictal phenomena provide important diagnostic clues about seizure type and localization. Todd paralysis, postictal aphasia, and automatisms are examples of postictal manifestations. The duration and character of postictal symptoms often correlate with seizure severity and origin.
Usage
Usage note: Part of seizure temporal classification; ensure proper sequence understanding.
In Context
- "The patient remained confused for two hours in the postictal period." — Emergency department note
- "Postictal aphasia suggested involvement of the dominant hemisphere." — Seizure localization report
Also known as
post-seizure
Contrasted with
preictal
Don't confuse with
ictal
interictal
preictal