The Trigeminocardiac Reflex? Severe Bradycardia Secondary to Facial Trauma: A Case Report
Introduction: The trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR), a physiologic response to irritation of the branches of the trigeminal nerve, was first described in humans in 1870. Gastric hypermotility, hypotension, bradycardia, and even asystole have been reported in response to surgical manipulation of the trig...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eScholarship Publishing, University of California
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/97k585gq |
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| author | Boris Penev Hallmon Hughes Katherine Scarpino Daniel J. Ritter |
| author_facet | Boris Penev Hallmon Hughes Katherine Scarpino Daniel J. Ritter |
| author_sort | Boris Penev |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR), a physiologic response to irritation of the branches of the trigeminal nerve, was first described in humans in 1870. Gastric hypermotility, hypotension, bradycardia, and even asystole have been reported in response to surgical manipulation of the trigeminal nerve and its branches, but literature is limited in patients not undergoing surgery. Although effects are generally transient and benign, TCR can present a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in patients undergoing surgical manipulation of the trigeminal nerve and its branches. Case Report: We describe a case of severe bradycardia secondary to facial trauma causing hemodynamic compromise and diagnostic uncertainty. Conclusion: This case highlights a possible case of TCR, as well as therapeutic considerations, in a patient presenting to the emergency department with severe facial trauma. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-005a2f39be08407bbc5306704fbd4c8f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2474-252X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-005a2f39be08407bbc5306704fbd4c8f2025-08-20T03:02:53ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaClinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine2474-252X2025-07-019332232510.5811/cpcem.43035cpcem-9-322The Trigeminocardiac Reflex? Severe Bradycardia Secondary to Facial Trauma: A Case ReportBoris Penev0Hallmon Hughes1Katherine Scarpino2Daniel J. Ritter3Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Emergency Medicine, Charleston, South CarolinaMedical University of South Carolina, College of Medicine, Charleston, South CarolinaMedical University of South Carolina, Department of Emergency Medicine, Charleston, South CarolinaMedical University of South Carolina, Department of Emergency Medicine, Charleston, South CarolinaIntroduction: The trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR), a physiologic response to irritation of the branches of the trigeminal nerve, was first described in humans in 1870. Gastric hypermotility, hypotension, bradycardia, and even asystole have been reported in response to surgical manipulation of the trigeminal nerve and its branches, but literature is limited in patients not undergoing surgery. Although effects are generally transient and benign, TCR can present a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in patients undergoing surgical manipulation of the trigeminal nerve and its branches. Case Report: We describe a case of severe bradycardia secondary to facial trauma causing hemodynamic compromise and diagnostic uncertainty. Conclusion: This case highlights a possible case of TCR, as well as therapeutic considerations, in a patient presenting to the emergency department with severe facial trauma.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/97k585gq |
| spellingShingle | Boris Penev Hallmon Hughes Katherine Scarpino Daniel J. Ritter The Trigeminocardiac Reflex? Severe Bradycardia Secondary to Facial Trauma: A Case Report Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine |
| title | The Trigeminocardiac Reflex? Severe Bradycardia Secondary to Facial Trauma: A Case Report |
| title_full | The Trigeminocardiac Reflex? Severe Bradycardia Secondary to Facial Trauma: A Case Report |
| title_fullStr | The Trigeminocardiac Reflex? Severe Bradycardia Secondary to Facial Trauma: A Case Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Trigeminocardiac Reflex? Severe Bradycardia Secondary to Facial Trauma: A Case Report |
| title_short | The Trigeminocardiac Reflex? Severe Bradycardia Secondary to Facial Trauma: A Case Report |
| title_sort | trigeminocardiac reflex severe bradycardia secondary to facial trauma a case report |
| url | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/97k585gq |
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