Paroxysmal Sympathetic Storms After Type A Dissection of the Aorta

摘要

Paroxysmal crises of sympathetic hyperactivity ("paroxysmal sympathetic storms" or "diencephalic seizures"), together with alterations in the level of consciousness and stretching postures, have been described in patients with lesions of the central nervous system. These seizures have been attributed to damage at the diencephalic level; although, in some cases, it has not been possible to show an anatomic lesion, and they have responded to drugs such as morphine, bromocriptine, or clonidine. The authors describe the case of a patient in whom these seizures appeared after surgery to repair a type A dissection of the thoracic aorta.