The differentiation of peripheral effector neuron failure from acute brain stem dysfunction in a critically ill patient

P G Bain; G Harwood; G E Holder; B M Evans

doi:10.1136/jnnp.55.1.68

The differentiation of peripheral effector neuron failure from acute brain stem dysfunction in a critically ill patient

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1992 Jan;55(1):68-70. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.55.1.68.

Authors

P G Bain¹, G Harwood, G E Holder, B M Evans

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurology, South-East Thames Regional Neurosciences Centre, Brook Hospital, London, UK.

Abstract

A patient appeared to be in coma following pneumococcal meningitis, an intracerebral haemorrhage, and a cardiac arrest. Late in the course of his illness neurophysiological investigations confirmed a proposal that he also had a fulminant acute demyelinating polyneuropathy which, for a period of five days, rendered the patient completely unresponsive. The patient recovered and is now working without any disability.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Arousal / physiology*
Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology
Brain Stem / injuries*
Brain Stem / physiopathology
Cerebral Hemorrhage / diagnosis
Cerebral Hemorrhage / physiopathology
Critical Care*
Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / physiology*
Follow-Up Studies
Head Injuries, Closed / diagnosis
Head Injuries, Closed / physiopathology*
Humans
Male
Muscles / innervation*
Peripheral Nerves / physiopathology
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology*
Polyradiculoneuropathy / diagnosis
Polyradiculoneuropathy / physiopathology
Synaptic Transmission / physiology*
Syndrome