Brainstem auditory evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials in prediction of posttraumatic coma in children.
Follow-up brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) studies were performed within 72 hours after admission in 127 children with severe head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score of < or = 8) in order to predict quo ad vitam outcome of posttraumatic coma. Outcomes were categorised as brain death and survival. On first assessment 50 comatose children had normal BAEPs and SEPs. 78% of them survived and 22% deteriorated and died. 45 had abnormal findings. 69% of them improved and survived whilst 31% deteriorated and died. 32 children did not have recordable BAEPs and SEPs. All of them died. Thus, comatose children with normal EP studies have in 78% good prognosis and a bad outcome can be reliably predicted.
Butinar
D
D
Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Gostisa
A
A
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003128:Coma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome