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posthypoxic myoclonus (Lance-Adams syndrome)
Etiology:
- cardiac arrest
- delayed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (2 minutes)
Pathology:
- cerebral cortex becomes hyperexcitable after hypoxic or anoxic injury
Clinical manifestations:
- powerful, shock-like muscle jerks
- activation of symptoms with activity or other stimulus
- sudden lapse of sustained posture (negative myoclonus) or asterixis
- may result in inability to walk
Management:
- anticonvulsants:
a) suboptimal response to therapy
b) agents
- valproic acid
- levetiracetam
- clonazepam
- prognosis: poor
General
myoclonus
References
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 16
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2012
- Venkatesan A, Frucht S.
Movement disorders after resuscitation from cardiac arrest.
Neurol Clin. 2006 Feb;24(1):123-32.
PMID: 16443134