Can somatosensory evoked potentials predict outcome from coma?
Long-term somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) recordings for a period of 2 1/2 years are reported for a patient rendered comatose from hypoxic encephalopathy. Findings are compared with previously published reports on poor outcome associated with bilaterally absent cortical responses. In the present case, the patient was admitted with poor neurological status but has preserved cortical responses bilaterally throughout his course until his final recovery and return to previous employment. Somatosensory cortical responses when bilaterally absent are universally associated with poor outcome; however, when persistently present they can indicate hope of recovery despite poor clinical status on admission.
Ahmed
I
I
University of Missouri, Kansas City.
D000328:Adult; D003128:Coma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011930:Reaction Time