Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Establishment of a Severe Dry Eye Model Using Complete Dacryoadenectomy in Rabbits
Published on: January 8, 2020
Characterization of Postanoxic Tonic Eyelid Opening: A Poorly Recognized Prognostic Sign
Faisal Alsallom1, Hussam Shaker1, Christopher Newey1
1Division of Clinical Neurophysiology (FA), Epilepsy, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; Harvard Medical School (FA), Boston, MA; Epilepsy Center (HS, CN, SH, VP), Cerebrovascular Center (CN), Neurological Institute, and Center for Clinical Artificial Intelligence (CN), Cleveland Clinic, OH.
Background:
Postanoxic myoclonus is a known poor prognostic sign, and other postanoxic spontaneous movements have been reported but poorly described. We aim to describe the electroclinical phenomenon of postanoxic eyelid openings in context of its possible prognostic value.
Methods:
We collected clinical data on postcardiac arrest patients with suspicious eyelid movements noted on continuous EEG monitoring. The eyelid movements captured on the video were correlated with the EEG findings and final clinical outcome. Neuroimaging data were reviewed when available. We also conducted a thorough literature review on this topic.
Results:
A total of 10 patients (5 females) with average age of 56.1 (±14.4) years were included. The mean cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration was 18.9 (±11.3) minutes. Postanoxic eyelid-opening movements occurred at variable intervals (0.5-570 seconds) in each individual. Close examination of eyelid opening (available in 6 patients) revealed them to be tonic movements, lasting an average of 3 (±0.8) seconds and always succeeded the onset of burst of EEG activity in a burst-suppression background. This is a transient phenomenon, lasting a median duration of 30 (interquartile range 7.75-36) hours. MRI findings in 3 patients demonstrated diffuse cortical ischemic injury with relative sparing of the brainstem. All patients died within 2-7 days following cardiac arrest.
Conclusions:
Contrary to previous descriptions, the postanoxic tonic eyelid openings (PATEO) are repetitive but nonperiodic, nonmyoclonic movements. Their close and specific temporal correlation with the burst of EEG activity suggests that this could be considered an ictal phenomenon requiring an intact midbrain based on MRI findings.
