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Neurogenic Stunned Myocardium in Two Children with Neurological Injury
Laura Díaz Ruiz1, Iria Durán Lorenzo1, Olga Ordoñez Sáez1
1Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
Neurogenic stunned myocardium, a reversible heart dysfunction after neurological events, is likely underdiagnosed in infants. This report highlights two infant cases, increasing awareness of this condition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM) is cardiac dysfunction triggered by acute neurological events.
- NSM is well-documented in adults but under-investigated and potentially underdiagnosed in infants.
Observation:
- This report details two infant cases presenting with clinical suspicion of NSM.
- Both infants experienced sudden, reversible cardiac dysfunction following neurological events.
Findings:
- The cases illustrate the occurrence of NSM in infants, confirming its presence in this population.
- Clinical suspicion is crucial for identifying NSM in infants.
Implications:
- Increased awareness and investigation of NSM in infants are warranted.
- Early diagnosis and management of NSM can improve infant cardiac outcomes.
- Further research is needed to understand the pathophysiology and prevalence of NSM in neonates and infants.
Abstract:
Neurogenic stunned myocardium is described as sudden and reversible cardiac dysfunction induced by an acute neurological event. This phenomenon has not been thoroughly investigated in infants, and is probably underdiagnosed. Here, we report the cases of two infants with neurogenic stunned myocardium in whom the clinical suspicion was relevant, with a brief discussion of this condition.
