Decorticate syndrome

The symptom of decorticate syndrome mainly refers to damage to the patient's cerebral cortex, which may cause the patient to become comatose and unconscious, and may also cause symptoms such as incontinence and limb twisting. It has a great impact on the patient's body, and it is recommended that patients should seek medical attention in a timely manner. It is recommended that you learn more about the causes and symptoms of decorticate syndrome.

Decorticate syndrome occurs when there is extensive cortical damage. During the recovery process of this disease, the subcortical centers and brainstem recover first because they are less damaged, while the cerebral cortex remains in an inhibited state. The patient can open and close his eyes unconsciously, his eyeballs can move, his pupil light reflex and corneal reflex are restored, his limbs have high muscle tone, and his pathological reflexes are positive. Sucking reflex and grasping reflex may be present, and there may be unconscious swallowing during feeding, but there are no spontaneous movements. Inability to produce conscious response to external stimuli. Incontinence, wakefulness and sleep cycles. Body posture with upper limbs flexed and lower limbs extended

concept

Decortical syndrome, also known as wake-like coma, is characterized by unconsciousness, pupil light reflex, swallowing and chewing movements, and a drowsy state. The patient opens and closes his eyes unconsciously, has light reflex and corneal reflex, unconscious response to external stimuli, no spontaneous speech and purposeful movements, and presents a decorticate rigid posture with upper limbs flexed and lower limbs extended. He often has pathological symptoms and chews and swallows unconsciously. This is seen in hypoxic encephalopathy, cerebrovascular disease and extensive damage to the cerebral cortex caused by trauma.

Extension

Also known as decortication syndrome. A special state of consciousness disorder in which cortical function is lost due to extensive lesions of the cerebral cortex while subcortical function is preserved. It can be caused by many reasons, most commonly widespread cerebral hypoxia, blood circulation disorders and various serious brain diseases, such as respiratory and circulatory arrest, carbon monoxide poisoning, status epilepticus, cerebrovascular disease, brain trauma, encephalitis and hepatic encephalopathy. The clinical manifestations are wakefulness and sleep cycles. When awake, the eyes are open and seem to be able to see things, or the eyes move around aimlessly. The patient seems to be awake, but in fact there is no conscious activity, cannot understand speech, and has no spontaneous speech or purposeful autonomous activities. However, unconscious activities under the cortex and various reflexes such as blinking, chewing, swallowing, pupil light reflex, corneal reflex, etc. are very active, and there are avoidance movements to painful stimuli. As cortical function recovers, varying degrees of conscious activity gradually appear. If the recovery is incomplete, there will be varying degrees of intellectual disability, dementia, or a long-term decortication state. The key to this disease is prevention, with treatment mainly focusing on the cause.