Choreoathetosis after surgery for congenital heart disease

Abstract

Choreoathetosis developed in three patients after cardiopulmonary bypass with hypothermia. None had significant hypotension or hypoxemia; all had hypocapnia and respiratory alkalosis during the rewarming period. We postulate that hypocapnia-induced cerebral vasoconstriction may have contributed to ischemic damage in focal central nervous system areas.