Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Southampton
University Hospital, Southampton, UK | Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Southampton
University Hospital, Southampton, UK
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Pawan S. Kashyape, Department of Pediatric
Neurology, Mailpoint 43, G Level, East Wing, Southampton General Hospital,
Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. Tel.: +44 2380794457; Fax: +44
2380794750; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: We report a case of a previously unreported complication of an
intracranial Ommaya reservoir catheter causing par-oxysmal episodes of
bradycardia-asystole and syncope as a result of migration of the catheter tip
into the left temporal lobe. These episodes were captured on ambulatory
electroencephalography as syncopal events, but with interictal left temporal
epi-leptiform discharges. These events promptly resolved after repositioning
the catheter. There was a recurrence of these events 1 yr later, associated
with remigration of the catheter tip into the left temporal lobe, necessitating
removal of the Ommaya reservoir, rendering the patient symptom free. This is
the first reported case of an iatrogenic and possibly ictal
bradycardia-asystole syn-drome and underpins the importance of considering
migration of indwelling intracranial catheters into sensitive regions of the
cortex as a possible cause of paroxysmal episodes.
