COMA-INFRATENTORIAL ETIOLOGY

SUMMARY

1. lnfratentorial coma is due to an injury that causes destruction or compression of the brainstem.

2. Signs include bilateral reactive pinpoint pupils (due to pontine involvement) and respiratory abnormalities, including cluster breathing, apneusis (deep gasping), and ataxic breathing.

3. 3 possible causes: basilar artery occlusion with pontine infarction, cerebellar infarction or hemorrhage, posterior fossa neoplasms.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].