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Related Experiment Videos

A brainstem "mini-discharge" syndrome (anesthesia dolorosa).

O J Andy1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216-4505.

The Pavlovian Journal of Biological Science
|October 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary

Chronic pain, a brainstem reticular denervation syndrome, involves abnormal brainstem discharges. Electrical stimulation of the mesothalamus reduced these discharges and alleviated pain and other symptoms.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurology
  • Pain Medicine

Background:

  • Anesthesia dolorosa secondary to trigeminal nerve interruption is presented as a brainstem reticular denervation syndrome.
  • This condition involves complex symptomatology potentially originating from the brainstem.

Observation:

  • Electrothalamograms showed fast frequency discharges in the mesothalamic, prerubral, and centermedian reticular formation.
  • These discharges were attenuated by mesothalamic electrical stimulation.

Findings:

  • Therapeutic electrical stimulation, applied twice daily, attenuated or abolished chronic pain and other brainstem-origin symptoms.
  • The symptom complex is identified as a brainstem "mini-discharge" syndrome.

Implications:

  • Reticular discharges may implicate brainstem-represented behavioral generators, producing complex symptoms.
  • A reticular denervation-induced low threshold discharge system may explain episodic pain, dyskinesia, mood, and memory disturbances.

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