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An intoxication mimicking brain death: baclofen

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Abstract

Baclofen is a derivative of gamma-aminobutyric acid, used mainly for the treatment of muscle spasticity. Baclofen overdose can result in severe respiratory depression, autonomic disturbances, seizures and coma. Here we report a 15-year-old girl who was found unresponsive, intubated and admitted to the PICU. On initial presentation, her Glasgow Coma Score was 3, with fixed dilated pupils. EEG revealed cerebral bioelectric activity and ground amplitudes significantly lower than normal. Supportive treatments were administered. On the 2nd PICU day, she regained consciousness and was able to follow commands. She was extubated and discharged on hospital day 3. Conclusively emergency physicians should consider baclofen overdose in children presenting with acute loss of consciousness, flaccidity, and hyporeflexia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    Alper Koker, Gazi Arslan, Ömer Özden, Utku Karaarslan & Tolga Köroğlu

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Care, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    Anıl Er & Murat Duman

Authors
  1. Alper Koker
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  2. Gazi Arslan
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  3. Ömer Özden
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  4. Utku Karaarslan
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  5. Anıl Er
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  6. Murat Duman
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  7. Tolga Köroğlu
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Correspondence to Alper Koker.

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The authors declare that they have no competing of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and \or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Koker, A., Arslan, G., Özden, Ö. et al. An intoxication mimicking brain death: baclofen. Acta Neurol Belg 120, 33–35 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-018-1012-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-018-1012-y

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