• Dirk Deleu, Marie-Anne Kettern, Yolande Hanssens, Suresh Kumar, Khalid Salim, and Francisco Miyares.
• Department of Neurology (Medicine), Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, State of Qatar. Tel. +974 4392773. Fax. + 974 4391826 E-mail: doc_deleu@hotmail.com.
• Neurosciences. 2007 Jan 1;12(1):65-7.

AbstractNeurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM) is a well-known complication of subarachnoidal hemorrhage, but has been reported rarely in association with other central nervous system disorders. A case of NSM is described in a patient with hemorrhagic brain contusion associated with cerebral edema. An 18-year-old man was admitted with severe cranial trauma following a car roll-over. Six days after admission, he developed findings suggestive for NSM. The troponin T and creatine kinase-MB level were elevated and echocardiogram showed apical and inferoposterior hypokinesis and diffuse left ventricular akinesis with severely reduced ejection fraction (18%). Invasive measurements confirmed low cardiac output. His cardiac function resolved completely within 6 days after decompressive craniotomy. This case supports the presumed unifying role of the increased intracranial pressure, probably triggering a vigorous sympathetic outflow hyperactivity leading to NSM.

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