Auditory brainstem response: prognostic value in patients with a score of 3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prognostic value of auditory brainstem response (ABR) recorded in comatose patients presenting a score of 3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS = 3).


METHODS
One hundred thirty-eight patients in coma at GCS = 3 due to various etiologic agents.


METHODS
To record and analyze tracings of ABR.


METHODS
Tracings from ABR were classified into four types (B1, B2, B3, and B4) on the basis of synchrony of waves.


RESULTS
The Fischer's exact test used for comparison between death proportions revealed that B1 is different from B2, B3, or B4 and the association B2 + B3 + B4.


CONCLUSIONS
Auditory brainstem response is a useful tool with prognostic value for patients in coma with GCS = 3. It was demonstrated in our series that once the patient presented an abnormal ABR (B2, B3, or B4), he had a greater probability of dying than a patient with a normal ABR (B1).
de Sousa
Luiz Carlos A
LC
Paparella Otorhinolaryngology Association, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. lcarlos@clinicapaparella.com.br
Colli
Benedicto O
BO
Piza
Marcelo R T
MR
da Costa
Sady S
SS
Ferez
Marcus
M
Lavrador
Marco
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis