title: [Value of the EEG in the prognosis of post-anoxic coma following cardiocirculatory arrest].
abstract: The EEGs of 26 patients who remained at least 6 hours in coma after cardiovascular arrest were analyzed. The first EEG was recorded within few days after reanimation, classified in a 5-grade scale of increasingly severe impairment and compared with the final clinical outcome. On the basis of the present study and of a review of 408 EEG findings reported in similar investigations in the literature we conclude that the EEG can be useful in predicting the outcome of patients in postanoxic coma states: the EEG should be recorded at earliest 8-12 hours but within 2 days after reanimation, a barbiturate intoxication and hypothermia should be excluded. The classification of the recordings in a 5-grade scale has proven to be helpful and accurate in predicting the outcome: Grade I EEG findings imply a very good prognosis, a complete remission can be expected in most cases. Grade II and III findings have no definite prognosis: the EEG should be repeated one or two days later, a favorable outcome is to be expected only with rapid improvement of the tracing. Grade IV and Grade V findings have a very serious prognosis: complete recovery has been described episodically, most in the pediatric population and with findings of alpha-coma.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012151:Resuscitation
vernacular_title: Der Wert des EEG zur Prognose bei postanoxischen Komata nach kardiozirkulatorischem Stillstand.