Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: A diagnostic challenge

Abstract

We report the case of a 7-year-old girl operated for craniopharyngioma who developed hyperkalemic cardiac arrest in the post-operative period. She was diagnosed as Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) and the causative drug was carbamazepine. It was essentially a diagnosis of exclusion, and treatment was mainly supportive in form of withdrawal of the neuroleptic medication (carbamazepine) and administration of dantrolene and bromocriptine. Although, relatively uncommon, NMS can be fatal. NMS presents a clinical challenge as the patient outcome depends on its prompt recognition and treatment.

Keywords

• Carbamazepine
• craniopharyngioma
• neuroleptic malignant syndrome