Cervical spinal cord injury by a low-impact trauma as an unnoticed cause of cardiorespiratory arrest.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cardiorespiratory arrest (CA) secondary to traumatic cervical spinal cord injury can occur in minor accidents with low-impact trauma and may be overlooked as the cause of CA in patients admitted in the coronary care unit.

Case summary

We present two patients admitted to the coronary care unit because of suspected CA of cardiac origin. Both patients were found in CA with asystole, one after collapsing in a shopping mall and falling down a few steps and the other in the street next to his bicycle. They underwent early pharmacologically induced coma and hypothermia precluding neurological examination. Both patients remained in coma after rewarming, with preserved brainstem reflexes but absent motor response to pain. One patient had post-anoxic myoclonus in the face w

SUBMITTER: Maya-Casalprim G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7180526 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature