The postictal phase is described as:

• A. The patient is completely back to baseline immediately after seizure
• B. The patient may be confused or disoriented after a seizure
• C. The patient is actively seizing
• D. The patient experiences chest pain after a seizure

Answer: (B)

After a seizure, the brain needs time to recover from the abnormal activity, and the period that follows is the postictal state. During this time the person may not be back to baseline yet and is often confused, disoriented, or sleepy. They might have impaired memory of the event, slowed speech, or transient weakness on one side (Todd’s paralysis). This phase can last from minutes to an hour or more, and airway and breathing should be supported with careful monitoring.

The other descriptions don’t fit as well: the person isn’t fully back to baseline immediately after the seizure, because recovery is ongoing; the seizure itself is over and the brain is not actively seizing; and chest pain is not a defining feature of the postictal period.