# Bilateral Thalamic Stroke Following Cardiac Arrest Due to Massive Saddle Pulmonary Embolism

## TL;DR

A rare case of bilateral thalamic stroke occurred after a massive pulmonary embolism caused cardiac arrest.

## Contribution

This case report documents the rare combination of bilateral thalamic stroke and massive saddle pulmonary embolism.

## Key findings

- Bilateral thalamic stroke can result from global cerebral hypoperfusion after cardiac arrest.
- Massive saddle pulmonary embolism is a dangerous cause of cardiopulmonary compromise.
- Such combined events are extremely rare and underreported in medical literature.

## Abstract

Bilateral thalamic infarctions are rare, but can be seen in patients experiencing occlusion or hypoperfusion. Saddle emboli can be very dangerous, leading to cardiac arrest. The occurrence of both in a single patient is an incredibly rare and dangerous entity, infrequently found in the literature. We present a case of a bilateral thalamic stroke in a 55-year-old male who experienced cardiac arrest secondary to a massive saddle pulmonary embolism. This case highlights the rare occurrence of bilateral thalamic infarction in the context of global cerebral hypoperfusion following cardiopulmonary compromise.