Saccadic ping pong gaze in coma.
In this report, we describe the peculiar eye movements of a young man who became comatose after a head injury. The eyes moved rhythmically from one side to another, without pausing in the lateral positions. This phenomenon has been described as "ping pong gaze" (PPG), referring to short-cycling periodic alternating gaze with smooth eye deviations. In the present patient, however, a saccadic type of PPG could be confirmed by oculography. Possible clinical and pathophysiological implications are discussed.
Sieben
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Department of Neurology, Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. annesieben@yahoo.com
Crevits
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Santens
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D000328:Adult; D003128:Coma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology*