J Korean Neurol Assoc.  2019 May;37(2):182-185. 10.17340/jkna.2019.2.12.

Spontaneous Repetitive Constriction and Dilatation of a Unilateral Pupil in a Brain Death Patient

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurology, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. knstar@ewha.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Critical Care Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

In brain death state, bilateral pupil light reflexes are disappeared, and pupils are fixed with dilated. However, spontaneous movements such as ocular microtremor or bilateral cyclical constriction-dilatation of pupils have been rarely reported in brain death patients. We present a brain death patient whose right pupil displayed spontaneously repetitive constriction and dilatation regardless of external stimuli such as light and pain. Early recognition of this phenomenon may prohibit the delay in the diagnosis of brain death and organ transplantation.

Keyword

Brain death; Pupil; Coma

MeSH Terms

Brain Death*
Brain*
Coma
Constriction*
Diagnosis
Dilatation*
Humans
Organ Transplantation
Pupil*
Reflex
Transplants
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