[Ischemic anoxic cerebral crises in children. Electrophysiological aspects].
BACKGROUND
Ischemic anoxic cerebral crises are linked to cardio-inhibition in response to vagal hypersensitivity which causes cerebral ischemic.


OBJECTIVE
In this paper we proposed to describe the clinical and electrophysiological features seen during the ocular compression test.


METHODS
We studied 200 children with clinical findings suggesting ischemic anoxic cerebral crises with positive results on ocular compression testing.


RESULTS
The ocular compression test provoked signs and symptoms, on average, in between 48.5% and 62.5% of the patients; generalized hypotonia and loss of consciousness were the most frequent signs. We found that the presence of clinical changes depended on the duration of the pause in heartbeat. There was also an association between the duration of the pause in heartbeat and the electroencephalographic findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Identification of a state of vagal hypersensitivity is of considerable value in the positive differential diagnosis of cerebral crises in children, and of definite prognostic value.
Pozo-Alonso
A J
AJ
Servicio de Neuropediatría, Hospital Pediátrico Universitario William Soler, La Habana, Cuba. pozo@infomed.sld.cu
Pozo-Lauzán
D
D
Alvarez-Flores
G
G
Cathcart-Roca
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D009122:Muscle Hypertonia / Q000175:diagnosis; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology