locked-in syndrome

locked-in syndrome

 [lok't in]

a condition in which the patient is awake and retains mental capacity but cannot express himself or herself because of paralysis of afferent motor pathways, preventing speech and limb movements (except for some form of voluntary eye movement, usually up and down). The patient may be able to establish effective communication through eye movements and specially adapted computers or letter boards.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

locked-·in syn·drome

basis pontis infarct resulting in tetraplegia, horizontal ophthalmoplegia, dysphagia, and facial diplegia with preserved consciousness; caused by basilar artery occlusion.

Synonym(s): pseudocoma

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

locked-in syndrome

Neurology Flaccid tetraplegia with facial paresis and complete incapacity of expression–ie, anarthric and aphonic; LIS is due to damage or dysfunction of descending motor pathways or peripheral nerves, 2º to bilateral destruction of the basis pontis or medulla and sparing of tegmentum, caused by infarcts or central pontine myelinolysis; LIS Pts are conscious and alert and only capable of communicating by moving their eyes–voluntary eye movement and eyelids–blinking

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

lock·ed-in syn·drome

(lokt-in' sin'drōm)

Basis pontis infarct resulting in tetraplegia, horizontal ophthalmoplegia, dysphagia, and facial diplegia with preserved consciousness; caused by basilar artery occlusion.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

locked-in syndrome

A state of total paralysis, except for eye movements, in which the victim remains conscious and able to communicate by eye movement codes. This nightmarish situation usually results from a basilar artery haemorrhage or thrombosis, or other damage, affecting the ventral pons with preservation of the dorsal tegmental area. This destroys almost all motor function, but leaves the higher mental functions intact. Compare PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATE.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005