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Brainstem
Shutdown
Episodes of "Brainstem
Shutdown" characterised by sudden drops of arterial
blood pressure to the level usually seen in shocks caused
by spinal cord injuries. This is associated with decreases
in cardiac vagal tone and cardiac sensitivity to baroreflex
to levels close to zero and the heart rate drifts towards
the intrinsic pacemaker's rate indicating no nervous influences
on the heart at that time. Rett patients with Valsalva's type
of breathing and forceful breathers are predisposed to brainstem
shutdown. The patient will look lifeless during the episode
and can be worrying without proper diagnosis.
This graph
was recorded using the NeuroScope™ system
ASBA
with Screaming and Brainstem shutdown
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