Post-Pump Chorea and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy-Like Syndrome Following Major Cardiac Surgery

Post-pump chorea and progressive-supranuclear palsy (PSP)-like syndrome after aortic surgery are 2 distinct movement disorders following major cardiac surgeries.

We herein report 3 patients with movement disorders that developed after major cardiac surgeries. Two patients developed post-pump chorea after pulmonary endarterectomy, and 1 further case developed PSP-like syndrome after aortic replacement surgery. The 2 conditions share several common aspects. Both are preceded by surgeries that undergo cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermia circulatory arrest procedures. Most cases present with biphasic course. However, post-pump chorea occurs in all age populations after any surgeries that undergo deep hypothermia circulatory arrest, whereas PSP-like syndrome is reported exclusively in the adult population after aortic surgery.

Post-pump chorea and PSP-like syndrome are neurologic complications of major cardiac surgeries that should not be underrecognized. Further reports to establish their common pathogenic mechanism should be encouraged.