Background:
Paroxysmal sympathetic hyper-activity (PSH) is a syndrome characterized by excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The cerebrovascular flow dynamics during the episodes of paroxysmal hyper-activity has also not been clearly examined in the literature.
Case History:
A 12-year-old boy with operated exophytic brain stem pilocytic astrocytoma was diagnosed with paroxysmal sympathetic hyper-activity. The trans-cranial Doppler flow characteristics of the bilateral middle cerebral artery and anterior cerebral artery are described in this report.
Conclusion:
The diagnosis of PSH requires an index of suspicion on the part of the clinician. The episodes of sympathetic hyper-activity are associated with significant changes in physiologic parameters in the patients including changes in cerebrovascular flow dynamics.
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