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Saccadic ping pong gaze in coma.

Sieben A, Crevits L, Santens P

Department of Neurology, Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. annesieben@yahoo.com

In this report, we describe the peculiar eye movements of a young man who became comatose after a head injury. The eyes moved rhythmically from one side to another, without pausing in the lateral positions. This phenomenon has been described as "ping pong gaze" (PPG), referring to short-cycling periodic alternating gaze with smooth eye deviations. In the present patient, however, a saccadic type of PPG could be confirmed by oculography. Possible clinical and pathophysiological implications are discussed.

Published 14 May 2007 in Neurologist, 13(3): 161-3.
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