Progressive cerebral atrophy after anoxic encephalopathy following cardiac arrest: a serial MRI study

Prahlad K Sethi and Nitin K Sethi

We present serial MRI studies in the case of a 45-year-old man who sustained an in hospital cardiac arrest and was successfully resuscitated after 25 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Five years after the cardiac arrest he remains in a persistent vegetative state. Serial MRI studies (Fig 1 immediately and Fig 2 after 3 years and Fig 3 after 5 years of cardiac arrest) indicate ongoing cerebral atrophy and highlight the delayed effects of an initial anoxic injury.

References

1. Cho HJ, Kim HY, So Y. Delayed postanoxic encephalopathy with serial MRI and PET studies. Eur Neurol. 2009; 61(5):315-6.

Legends

Serial MRI axial and coronal sections studies (Fig 1 immediately and Fig 2 after 3 years and Fig 3 after 5 years of cardiac arrest) indicate ongoing cerebral atrophy and highlight the delayed effects of an initial anoxic injury.