Cardiopulmonary Arrest Due to Brainstem Infarction: Discussion on the Diagnosis of Brainstem Infarction in a Patient Presenting with Cardiopulmonary Arrest

Although brainstem infarction is known to cause cardiopulmonary arrest, there are only a few reported cases. We experienced a patient who was brought into our emergency department with cardiopulmonary arrest. After successful resuscitation, she remained comatose, her eyes being fixed in the middle p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nihon Kyukyu Igakukai Zasshi 1991/08/15, Vol.2(4), pp.714-717
Main Authors: Ito, Nobuhiko, Yamane, Takashi, Aikawa, Naoki, Hori, Singo, Yamawaki, Takemori, Saito, Ryoichi, Abe, Osahiko
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
basilar artery
brainstem infarction
cardiopulmonary arrest
dead on arrival
sudden death
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Summary:Although brainstem infarction is known to cause cardiopulmonary arrest, there are only a few reported cases. We experienced a patient who was brought into our emergency department with cardiopulmonary arrest. After successful resuscitation, she remained comatose, her eyes being fixed in the middle position with no light reflex. She was quadriplegic, but showed occasional right-sided myoclonic involuntary movement. Brain computed tomography performed on the fourth hospital day revealed a diffuse low-density area in the left temporo-occipital lobe. Secondary brainstem infarction due to cerebral hypoperfusion or hypoxemia was ruled out, as other causes of cardiopulmonary arrest were not found. We considered that her cardiopulmonary arrest was caused by brainstem infarction. Cardiopulmonary arrest due to brainstem infarction may be overlooked because of diagnostic difficulty.
ISSN:0915-924X
1883-3772
DOI:10.3893/jjaam.2.714