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Previous Volume 328:1570-1571 May 27, 1993 Number 21 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: Kowey et al. (Dec. 24 issue)¹ described four patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices who had nocturnal sensations of cardioversion, in some instances with observed "jolting" and verbal outcries. These episodes resemble a variety of sleep-onset phenomena referred to as the exploding-head syndrome. Patients with this syndrome report hearing loud explosion-like noises as they are falling asleep². Many report seeing flashes of light or having difficulty breathing. They may have epigastric or precordial sensations. Electric feelings "ascending from the abdomen to the head, to be followed by a violent explosion," have been reported³. The patient often . . . [Full Text of this Article]

References

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Prudente, L. A. (2003). Phantom Shock in a Patient With an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: Case Report. Am J Crit Care 12: 144-146 [Full Text]