"Alpha-like" rhythms in electroencephalograms in coma after cariac arrest.
Electroencephalograms (EEGs) of 12 comatose patients showed "alpha-like" rhythms after cardiac arrest. Four patients revealed a stage II sleep pattern and two patients showed signs of reactivity in their EEGs. One patient recovered with minimal impairment of memory, one patient lived for 3 months, and 10 died 3 ot 30 days after cardiac arrest. Examination of the brain demonstrated the usual anoxic lesions in three patients and "respirator brain" in one. In three patients with ventral pontine syndrome, a somewhat similar EEG pattern, but with distinct differences in topography and reactivity, was observed. In order to recognize alpha-like rhythms in comatose patients after cardiac arrest, EEGs should be recorded daily for several days.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D003128:Coma / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000473:pathology; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged