Spinal cord infarction caused by cardiac tamponade.

Lin, Chih-Chia; Chen, Ssu-Yuan; Lan, Ching; Ting-Fang Shih, Tiffany; Lin, Ming-Chuan; Lai, Jin-Shin · Am J Phys Med Rehabil · 2002

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

This article describes a 16-yr-old male patient who went into shock and cardiac arrest 2 wk after surgical repair of an atrial septal defect. Cardiac tamponade was diagnosed and promptly treated, and his hemodynamic status stabilized 4 hr after the initial presentation of shock; however, paraplegia was found when the patient regained consciousness. Physicians should be alert to a possible diagnosis of spinal cord infarction in patients with complications of cardiovascular surgery, particularly when a new onset of neurologic symptoms or signs occurs.

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