ABSTRACT
The causes of sudden death after medullary infarction involve arrhythmia, central respiratory failure, and dysautonomia. Sudden cardiac arrest in a medullary infarction is uncommon. Most of these cases experienced sudden cardiopulmonary arrest within 2 weeks from stroke onset as the extent of lesion increased. Here, we report two cases of medullary infarction presenting as sudden cardiac arrest. These cases indicate that medullary infarction could be one of the causes of sudden cardiac arrest.
Subject(s)
Arrhythmias, Cardiac , Death, Sudden , Death, Sudden, Cardiac , Heart Arrest , Infarction , Medulla Oblongata , Primary Dysautonomias , Respiratory Insufficiency , StrokeABSTRACT
Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acid and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a multisystem mitochondrial disorder that typically presents in childhood. We report a case of MELAS syndrome diagnosed in a 45-year-old man presented with chronic kidney disease before a stroke-like episode. Genetic testing revealed a m.3243A>G point mutation in the mtDNA. The original diagnostic criteria for MELAS required the onset of stroke-like episodes prior to 40 years of age but this case demonstrates that disease onset may delay in certain individuals.
Subject(s)
Humans , Middle Aged , DNA, Mitochondrial , Genetic Testing , Lactic Acid , Late Onset Disorders , MELAS Syndrome , Mitochondrial Diseases , Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies , Point Mutation , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic , StrokeABSTRACT
Swallow or deglutition syncope is a rare cause of syncope. It occurs due to a vagal reflex while swallowing. We present here a patient with recurrent loss of consciousness after swallowing liquid. He had a 1-month history of concurrent chemoradiotherapy due to non-small cell lung cancer. Electrocardiogram monitoring revealed atrioventricular block with swallowing of beverages. The details of this case suggest that chemoradiotherapy to mediastinum may cause neurogenic swallow syncope.