Chorea after cardiac surgery

Chorea after cardiac surgery (formerly post-pump chorea) is a common complication in children (estimated prevalence of 0.6%-3%) but is rare in adults; when it does occur, it is often permanent and less responsive to treatment. A 47-year-old woman developed chorea in all limbs following cardiac surgery for a pseudoaneurysm of the anastomosis along with thrombectomy of the prosthetic aortic valve (after Bentall's procedure in the past). MR scan of brain showed bilateral basal ganglia abnormalities, which partially resolved over 3 months. Despite initial treatments, her condition worsened until switching to haloperidol.