Delayed post-anoxic encephalopathy without relation to carbon monoxide poisoning

Delayed post-anoxic encephalopathy (DPE) not related to carbon monoxide has rarely been reported and usually carries a poor prognosis. We describe two surviving patients with such DPE and its neuro-otological characteristics. The DPE was caused by shock due to hemorrhage in a 21-year-old student, and by severe hypoxia and hypotension in a 60-year-old man. Our findings suggest that this type of DPE might not be rare, if the patients who suffered from severe anoxia, marked hypotension or both are carefully observed. Recognition of this DPE is important for appropriate management of such patients.