A patient with intractable posthypoxic myoclonus (Lance-Adams syndrome) treated with sodium oxybate

Anaesth Intensive Care. 2009 Mar;37(2):314-8. doi: 10.1177/0310057X0903700214.

Abstract

Posthypoxic myoclonus is a rare and devastating complication of near-fatal cardiopulmonary arrest. Despite treatment with available anti-myoclonic agents, some patients may recover cognitively but remain completely disabled by severe myoclonus. We report a 16-year-old patient with severe treatment-refractory posthypoxic myoclonus, which improved markedly with administration of the drug sodium oxybate.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Electroencephalography
  • Heart Arrest / complications*
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia, Brain / complications*
  • Male
  • Myoclonus / drug therapy*
  • Myoclonus / etiology
  • Myoclonus / physiopathology
  • Sodium Oxybate / therapeutic use*
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Sodium Oxybate