PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Deleu, Dirk AU - Kettern, Marie-Anne AU - Hanssens, Yolande AU - Kumar, Suresh AU - Salim, Khalid AU - Miyares, Francisco TI - Neurogenic stunned myocardium following hemorrhagic cerebral contusion. DP - 2007 Feb 01 TA - Saudi Medical Journal PG - 283--285 VI - 28 IP - 2 4099 - http://smj.org.sa/content/28/2/283.short 4100 - http://smj.org.sa/content/28/2/283.full SO - Saudi Med J2007 Feb 01; 28 AB - Neurogenic 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.