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Journal of Pediatric Neuroradiology 2012; 01(01): 055-057
DOI: 10.3233/PNR-2012-009
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Spinal cord injury and hemorrhage after chest compressions: A case report

Marie-Ève Samson
a   Department of Pediatrics, Sainte-Justine's Hospital, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
,
Ariane Willems
a   Department of Pediatrics, Sainte-Justine's Hospital, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
,
Chantal Lapierre
b   Department of Medical Imaging, Sainte-Justine's Hospital, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
,
Philippe Jouvet
a   Department of Pediatrics, Sainte-Justine's Hospital, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Publication History

15 May 2010

22 November 2010

Publication Date:
28 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

There are very few reports describing paraplegia of spinal origin after cardiac arrest in adults and none in pediatrics. We report a case of spinal cord injury with spinal subdural hematoma after chest compressions. A 4-month-old male infant with a hypoplastic left ventricle underwent cardiac transplantation at the age of three months. Two weeks after transplant, an episode of asystole and ventricular fibrillation of unknown origin occurred. His resuscitation included a 10-minute period of chest compressions. After sedation was discontinued, the patient was found to be paraplegic. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging showed a subdural hematoma and a hemorrhagic medullary contusion extending from T4 to T10 with a subarachnoid hemorrhage extending from T10 to S2. Adequate compression to ensure support of circulation is life saving but pediatricians must be aware of the potential risk of spinal cord injury after chest compressions.

Keywords

Spinal subdural hematoma - spinal cord injury - chest compressions - cardiac arrest