Ondine’s curse, a fatal infarction diagnosed by polysomnography and saved by ventilation: a case report

Background Lateral medullary syndrome causing Ondine’s curse is a rare yet fatal brainstem infarction. Any patient presenting with lateral medulla infarction ought to be well observed and a polysomnography must be ordered for him. Case presentation A patient presenting with Ondine’s curse is dealt with through polysomnography as a diagnostic procedure that was followed by tracheostomy with portable ventilator and cardiac pacemaker as a therapeutic maneuver which ultimately preserved his life. Conclusion Lateral medullary syndrome infarct could be a life-threatening stroke if not diagnosed and managed properly.

Microvascular Decompression using Muscle Graft for Vertebral Artery Medullary Compression Syndrome

It is well known that brainstem dysfunction may be caused by vascular compression of the medulla oblongata. However, only a limited number of reports have found microvascular decompression surgery to be an effective treatment for symptomatic patients with medulla oblongata dysfunction. This report describes a patient with vertebral artery compression of lateral medulla oblongata who presented with lateral medullary syndrome. Microvascular decompression surgery using the transcondylar fossa approach was effective in relieving patient symptoms. The transcondylar fossa approach and the transposition of vertebral artery along with autologous muscle graft interposition technique is appropriate in microvascular decompression surgery to relieve vertebral artery compression of medulla oblongata.