J Korean Med Sci.  2012 Jun;27(6):707-710. 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.6.707.

Amnesia and Pain Relief after Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in a Cancer Pain Patient: A Case Report

• Chon JY
• Hahn YJ
• Sung CH
• Moon HS

• KMID: 1421628
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2012.27.6.707

Abstract

The mechanism of chronic pain is very complicated. Memory, pain, and opioid dependence appear to share common mechanism, including synaptic plasticity, and anatomical structures. A 48-yr-old woman with severe pain caused by bone metastasis of breast cancer received epidural block. After local anesthetics were injected, she had a seizure and then went into cardiac arrest. Following cardiopulmonary resuscitation, her cardiac rhythm returned to normal, but her memory had disappeared. Also, her excruciating pain and opioid dependence had disappeared. This complication, although uncommon, gives us a lot to think about a role of memory for chronic pain and opioid dependence.

Keyword

Pain; Amnesia; Opioid Dependence; Cardiac Arrest; Seizure

MeSH Terms

Amnesia/*diagnosis
Anesthesia, Local/adverse effects
Bone Neoplasms/drug therapy/radiotherapy/secondary
Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy/pathology/radiotherapy
*Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Electroencephalography
Female
Heart Arrest/etiology
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mepivacaine/adverse effects
Middle Aged
*Pain Management
Seizures/etiology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Mepivacaine

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Radiography of the patient. A radiographic view shows multiple pathologic fractures on the vertebra and right 10th and 11th ribs.

• 

  Fig. 2 Brain MRI of the patient. Brain MRI shows no specific abnormalities except metastatic lesions in the meninges and bones.

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  Fig. 3 EEG of the patient. The EEG shows a partial seizure lesion and severe, diffuse cerebral dysfunction in the right temporal lobe area.

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