Abstract

Locked-in syndrome is a rare but dramatic neurological condition, usually caused by infarction, hemorrhage or a trauma of the ventral pons. The characteristics of the syndrome are quadriplegia and anarthria with preserved consciousness. Patients retain vertical eye movements and blinking – the only way for communicating with the outside  world. It is difficult to differentiate this condition from severe disorders of consciousness because of lack of voluntary movements. Accurate diagnosis affects future rehabilitation and prognosis. Nowadays, ten-year survival rate is as high as 80%. This paper presents a case report of a 60- year-old man with basilar artery occlusion and classical locked-in syndrome.