You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Short report
Isolated medulla oblongata function after severe traumatic brain injury
  1. E F M Wijdicksa,
  2. J L D Atkinsonb,
  3. H Okazakic
  1. aDepartment of Neurology, Neurologic- Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Saint Marys Hospital, 1216 Second Street SW 55905 Rochester, Minnisota, USA, bDepartment of Neurosurgery, cDepartment of Anatomic Pathology and Neuropathology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, Minnesota, USA
  1. Professor E F M Wijdicks, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, 507–284–2511, USAwijde{at}mayo.edu

Abstract

The objective was to report the first pathologically confirmed case of partly functionally preserved medulla oblongata in a patient with catastrophic traumatic brain injury.

A patient is described with epidural haematoma with normal breathing and blood pressure and a retained coughing reflex brought on only by catheter suctioning of the carina. Multiple contusions in the thalami and pons were found but the medulla oblongata was spared at necropsy.

In conclusion, medulla oblongata function may persist despite rostrocaudal deterioration. This comatose state (“medulla man”) closely mimics brain death.

  • brain death
  • head injury
  • apnoea test
  • outcome

https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.70.1.127

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    View Full Text

    Footnotes